




^•- *-o^ 












-n^o^ 



</> 






'V 







.0 




-^^0^ 






•^o^ 








^ A 




<^, 











A 



















* ^^' 






^0 



.0 











^. 'o.* 



^^•n^. *", 



V 



^' 





^°-v. 






J^, 




.-&--' . 



■^ . ^^WQ * aV ^ °o V J1\F * V "^ • ' 




^oV 



^^-n^ 







/% 








,/ %'^-/ v-^\/ \--^''y .. --.. 

. .-^VV. -^Z ;^-, U^^'^ ,^, \./ 











The Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers ('■'■Gosline^s 
Pennsylvania Zouaves^') in the Sixth Corps. 



HISTORICAL PAPER 



By GrNDRTOIT GALLOWAY, 

(LATE CO. " A," 95th P. V.) 

READ 

By CHARLES K SNYDER, Esq., 

(LATE CORPORAL CO. " K," 95TH P. V.) 



Re-union of the Surviving Members of the 95th Pennsylvania Volunteers, 

HELD AT CtERMANTOWN, Pa., ON THE 12tH OF OCTOBER, 1883. 
TO WHICH IS ADDED 



A NARRATIVE OF THE CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN, THE SIXTH CORPS 

PART IN THAT CAMPAIGN, WHICH INCLUDES AN OFFICIAL LIST 

OF CASUALTIES IN EACH REGIMENT IN THE CORPS, AND 

ALSO THE NAME OF EVERY COMMISSIONED 

OFFICER KILLED OR WOUNDED. 

PREPARED FROM THE MANUSCRIPT OF THE FORTHCOMING HISTORY OF 
THE SIXTH CORPS, 

By G. NORTON GALLOWAY. 



"We envy the name this regiment (Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers) has won in 
the niche of fame. It has proved itself every way worthy to be what we have attempted to 
describe. An indHudual biography would be an intensely interesting memoir of its prowess) 
as well as exhibit the faithfulness and patriotism that have ever guided its movements. May 
the God of battles ever hold it in his lieepinj;, and shower down blessings and consolation 
to those who have lost Father, Brother, Husband, or Friend, is the fervent prayer of 
thousands iu this community." — Philadelphia Szmday Dispatch, May, 1S63. 



PHILADELPHIA, PA, 

1884. 



COLLINS, PRINTER. 






g^aii^ation. 



TO 



MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SEDGWICK, 

KILLED BY A SHARPSHOOTER MAY 9TH, 1864, NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA 
COURT-HOUSE, VA., 



THE FALLEN BRAVES 



GLORIOUS OLD SIXTH CORPS. 



The Author. 



ADDRESS. 



The "Union Cockade," and red, white, and blue ribbon 
fever was yet at its height, when the three months' volun- 
teers returned to their homes from a brief campaign in Mary- 
lan,d and Virginia. The country was still in a state of excite- 
ment, and brisk recruiting was going on at all points. 

Philadelphia had been and was still doing a noble work 
towards her share in suppressing the rebellion, and the South 
was just beginning to feel the reverberation of the " RufRn 
Gun" fired by the Marlbourne Virginia farmer. The popular 
uprising, however, had not yet reached its zenith, for a dis- 
trustful element hovered about the horizon, which needed 
only to burst to give true color to the immensurability of a 
struggle begun somewhat on the principle of " When fools 
take up the sword, wise people are compelled to take the shield ;" 
for many believed (and rightly, too) that our sister States of 
the South had foolishly taken up arms against a supposition 
of wrong; and we of the North, East, and West had only to 
lay hold on the shield to restore order. 

A number of fine regiments had already left for the seat of 
war, under the new call of President Lincoln for three years' 
volunteers, and many others were in process of organization. 
The Washington Blues, a military company of Philadelphia, 
had been in existence since the 17th of August, 1817. Its 
first captain being Robert Patterson, late Major-General of 
volunteers (since deceased). At the outbreak of the rebellion 
it numbered seventy-five muskets, under command of Captain 
John M. Gosline, of Philadelphia, a tailor by trade, who had 
for many years been connected with the company. From it 
Company A of the Eighteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Col. 
Wm. D. Lewis commandins", was principally, if not entirely, 
2 



recruited for the three months' service. This company was 
officered by Captain Gosline commanding, with Gustavus 
A\"ashington Town (a printer of Philadelphia) as first, and his 
brother, Thomas J. Town, as second lieutenant. 

Upon his return from the three months' service. Captain 
Gosline, having been invested with the necessary authority 
by the War Department, on the 27th of July, 1861, proceeded 
in conjunction with his late lieutenants, the brothers Town, 
to raise a three years' regiment for the national defence. Of 
the regiment, afterward^ better known as the Ninety-Fifth 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, it is now proposed to speak. 

Not that this once famous body of men did more than their 
noble brothers of other name and number under the same 
flag, but that the writer has a fuller knowledge of its doings 
(having served his country with them). 

Recruiting for "Gosline's Pennsylvania Zouaves" was be- 
gun on the 21st of August, 1861. The books of the first 
company (A) being opened on that day, at Sixth and Chest- 
nut Streets, over the clothing establishment of Rockhill & 
Wilson, by Thomas J. Town, before mentioned, and forty- 
six men were enrolled in a few hours' time. All the compa- 
nies, excepting "B," were recruited in Philadelphia and its 
suburbs, the latter company having been recruited in part in 
Burlington County, New Jersey, by Lieuts. J. G. C. Macfar- 
lane and AVm. H. R. Neal. This company also established a 
rendezvous in Philadelphia, over the clothing establishment of 
Rockhill & Wilson, when the company roster was finally filled 
under Captain Enos Baldwin, who had been a first lieutenant 
in Company F, Eighteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers. Com- 
panies C and D also were recruited at the same building, the 
former by Captain Elisha Hall, and the latter by Captain 
Jacob H. Beattes. Captains Beattes and Hall had also served 
in the Eighteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, in the three 
months' service— Beattes as captain, and Hall as second lieu- 
tenant of Company F. Company E was recruited in German- 
town, a wealthy suburb of Philadelphia, by Captain G. W. 
I^IcCullough. Company F was raised in the neighborhood of 
Ridge (Road) Avenue, Vine, and Callowhill Streets, by Cap- 



tam Edward Carroll. Company G had a general rendezvous at 
the armory of the Philadelphia Greys, a local military organ- 
ization, on Market Street above Eighth, and a recruitinc 
station on the corner of Forty-second and Market Streets'' 
West Philadelphia. The company was raised by Captain 
William Pritner, who had been identified with the "Greys " 
for twenty-nine years, and who had just returned from the 
three months' campaign, having commanded a company in 
the Seventeenth Pennsylvania, under Col. Frank E. Patter- 
son. Company H was recruited by Captain Francis W 
Franklm, Chestnut Street below Eighth. Company I was 
recruited in the northern and western environs of Philadel- 
phia-Manayunk and Roxborough-by Captain Timothy 
Clegg. Company I was largely recruited by Captain (after- 
wards Major) William B. Hubbs, and the rolls show the first 
muster of recruits to have taken place on the 23d of August 
1861. And Company K was raised by Captain Harry* w' 
Hewes, its principal rendezvous being with Companies A B 
C, and D. ' ' 

A camp for instruction, known as "Camp Gibson," was 
established in Jones's Woods, near Hestonville, West Phila- 
delphia, and the organization was designated by the proper 
authority as " Gosline's Pennsylvania Zouaves," Forty-fifth 
Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. 

As fast as recruits were enrolled and mustered in, thev 
were sent to Camp Gibson and fitted out. While here per- 
mission was given the men to visit their homes, and remain 
for twenty-four hours at a time, at the expiration of which 
they were required to return to camp and report for duty. 
The companies were soon filled up, the majority of the volun- 
teers being young men of high social standing, many holding 
positions of trust in the leading mercantile houses'^of I^hila"- 
delphia. 

Clothing, arms, and accoutrements were issued almost daily, 
and drilling commenced. Camp guard was mounted regu- 
larly, and a thorough system of discipline exacted from Sie 
men. The arms issued at this camp were the old Harper's 
Ferry altered muskets, which were subsequently exchanged 



8 

for the Austrian rifle with four-square hayonet. During the 
winter of 1862, at Camp Franklin, Virginia, the utter use- 
lessness of these latter arms was fully demonstrated by its 
frequent use in target practice, by the several companies of 
the command, and subsequently after the regiment arrived 
before Richmond. In June of the same year this arm was 
exchanged for the Springfield Rifle, which was retained until 
the close of the war. 

The regimental uniform was of the zouave pattern, and 
difl:ered but little from other zouave organizations — Birney's 
and Baxter's — then forming in the city. It was manufac- 
tured by the firm of Rockhill & Wilson, Philadelphia, and 
consisted of the best material, heavy marine cloth. The 
jacket, w^hich was of the sacque pattern, was open, and 
rounded at the waist, and trimmed with broad and narrow 
scarlet braid. Down each side was a row of brass buttons, 
adding greatly to its beauty and finish. The pants were of 
full length, not so wide as the regular " Zouave Petticoat," 
but just wide enough to harmonize with the pleated -waist, in 
broad folds. The over shirt was of Navy flannel, with silver- 
plated buttons, corresponding with those on the jacket, but 
several sizes smaller. The cap was the McClellan style, 
braided with narrow scarlet braid. A pair of leather leg- 
gings nearly reaching the knees finished the uniform, which, 
upon the whole, was very neat and attractive. The officers' 
uniform was of the regulation pattern excepting the caps, 
which w^ere trimmed with heavy bullion in "Pretzel work." 
The following was the original roster of commissioned 
officers: Colonel, John M. Gosline; Lieutenant-Colonel, Gus- 
tavus "W. Town; Major, Wm. B. Hubbs ; Adjutant, Eugene 
D. Dunton ; Quartermaster, John Haverland ; Surgeon, Ed- 
ward B. P. Kelly; Assistant-Surgeon, C. C. McGlaughlin. 
Company A: Captain Thomas J. Town (promoted Major, 
commissioned Colonel, not mustered); First Lieutenant, Ed- 
ward Freeman (promoted Captain of Company I) ; Second 
Lieutenant, C. S. Danenhower. Company B: Captain, Enos 
Baldwin ; First Lieutenant, J. G. C. Macfarlane (promoted 
First Lieutenant, Captain, and Lieutenant-Colonel, not mus- 



tered) ; Second Lieutenant, Wm. H. R. IsTeal (promoted Cap- 
tain). Company C : Captain, Elisha Hall (promoted Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel) ; First Lieutenant, Hamilton Donohue ; Second 
Lieutenant, T. D. G. Chapman (promoted First Lieutenant 
and Captain). Company D: Captain, Jacob H. Beattes; 
First Lieutenant, Francis J. Randall (promoted Captain, 
commissioned Major, not mustered); Second Lieutenant, Pat- 
rick Egan (promoted Captain of Company K). Company E : 
Captain, G. W". McCullough ; First Lieutenant, William H. 
Miller; Second Lieutenant, Hugh Oscar Roberts (promoted 
First Lieutenant, Captain, and commissioned Major, not 
mustered). Company F : Captain Edward Carroll (promoted 
Lieutenant-Colonel); First Lieutenant, David Hailer; Second 
Lieutenant, Charles Shugrue. Company G: Captain, Wil- 
liam Pritner; First Lieutenant, George Weest (promoted 
Captain); Second Lieutenant, Jacob Conrad. Company H: 
Captain, F. W. Franklin ; First Lieutenant, J. B. W. Ayde- 
lotte (promoted Captain) ; Second Lieutenant, Huston Smith, 
Jr. Company I: Captain Timothy Clegg; First Lieutenant, 
John B. Maxwell ; Second Lieutenant, John Laughlin. Com- 
pany K : Captain Harry W. Hewes ; First Lieutenant, Theo- 
dore H. McCalla (promoted Captain of Company E, and 
Major) ; Second Lieutenant, Michael A. Burke (promoted 
First Lieutenant and Captain). William John Campbell was 
Commissary Sergeant; Mardon Wilson, Jr., was Quarter- 
master Sergeant ; Robert H. Porter, Sergeant Major ; Thomas 
JSToble, Hospital Steward ; James M. Mann and Frederick 
Myers were Principal Musicians. 

Attached to the regiment was a fine brass band, which had 
long been in existence, and ranked among the first local 
bands in Philadelphia. Its leader, Joseph Whittington, was 
an accomplished performer upon the cornet, and a musician 
of some celebrity. It was composed as follows: — 

Leader, Joseph Whittington ; David Algie, William H. 
Bovard, Henry Beaver, Willis Davis, William Donald, Thos. 
Fitzpatrick, William H. Heftron, John R. Hause, William 
Hinkle, Henry Klag, Adolph Miller, Martin W. Mann, 
George Murgetroid, Alexander McCrea, Abraham Ogden, 



10 

Benjamin F. Peterman, Joseph V. Peterman (Sergt.), Aaron 
Stevenson, Philip Sanderson, John Tenny, Frank L. Wagner, 
Sylvester Yardley. 

The following is the Regimental Poster of Commissioned 
Officers (other than those originally serving) : Corporal Henry 
E. Hindmarsh, of Company G, was promoted to be Adjutant, 
filling the vacancy made by the death of Adjutant Dunton, 
killed at the battle of Salem Church, Va., on the 3d of May, 
1863. Thomas M. Laney and Jefferson Litz were Assistant 
Surgeons. 

Company A : Captain, Alexander Boyd ; First Lieuten- 
ants, Frank M. Harris, David Gordon, James S. Day ; Second 
Lieutenant, William Stivers. 

Company B : First Lieutenants, John S. Carpenter (pro- 
moted Captain of Company H), Thomas M. Field; Second 
Lieutenants, William J. Martin, John B. Thompson. 

Company C : Captains, Thomas D. G. Chapman, Samuel S. 
Ford ; First Lieutenants, Frank Stewart, Jacob A. Bisbing, 
Alexander H. Fry (transferred from Company I) ; Second 
Lieutenants, William J. Gelston (promoted First Lieutenant 
of Company H), John Southwell (promoted First Lieutenant 
of Company H), Michael Lawn (transferred from Company K). 

Company D: Captain, John A. Ward (promoted Major); 
First Lieutenants, Samuel H. Town, William B. Spooner; 
Second Lieutenant, Conrad Miller. 

Company E : First Lieutenant, James E. Hews ; Second 
Lieutenant, William Foreman. 

Com pan}' F : Captain, William Byrnes ; First Lieutenant, 
William J. Macdonald. 

Company F (a new company assigned to the regiment in 
the spring of 1865) : Captain, Thomas P. Smith ; First Lieu- 
tenant, Samuel Johnson ; Second Lieutenant, Henry L. Esrey. 

Company G : Captain, George P. Wood ; First Lieuten- 
ants, Enoch McCabe, Joseph Vickery (promoted Captain of 
Company A). 

Company H : Captain, Samuel H. Jones ; First Lieutenant, 
James J. Carroll ; Second Lieutenant, George P. Helmick. 

Company I : Captains, David F. Foley (promoted to Major), 
John Harper (promoted from First Sergeant of Company G to 



11 

Sergeant-Major, Second and First Lieutenants, and Captain of 
Company I ; thence to Major and Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
regiment, and was finally commissioned Colonel, though not 
mustered as such) ; First Lieutenant, Samuel Topham ; Sec- 
ond Lieutenant, Marshall C. Hong (promoted Captain, trans- 
ferred to Company C). 

Company I (new company added to the regiment in April, 
1865) : Captain, Jacob C. Schuler ; First Lieutenant, William 
Sharpley ; Second Lieutenant, Samuel Rutter. 

Company K : First Lieutenants, James Hergesheimer, Ed- 
win McEwen ; Second Lieutenant, Jacob Weber. 

Between the 21st of August and the 11th of October, 1861, 
ten full companies had been recruited, clothed, armed, and 
equipped, and were ready for the field. On the latter day 
Col. Gosline received orders from the War Department to 
report with his command to Brig.-Gen. Silas Casey, at Wash- 
ington, D. C. 

All necessary arrangements were completed by the evening 
of the 11th, and orders issued to each company commander 
to have his men in readiness to move by 10 A. M. of the 12th. 
Accordingly permission was given to the men to visit their 
homes and families, and spend the last night with them. 
Soon after the issue of this order nearly the entire regiment 
could be seen wending their way from Camp Gibson towards 
the city, all in good spirits and anxious to make the most of 
the indulgence granted them. 

The passenger railway cars running from the western part 
of the city were taxed to their utmost capacity in conveying 
the men to their homes, and many were compelled to walk 
for want of accommodation. The morning of the 12th broke 
bright and clear, and at a very early hour squads of the regi- 
ment were making their way to camp, all eager and ready to 
go to the front. By 10 A. M. the men had nearly all reported, 
and the long expected order came to " Break camp ; " Pack 
up!" In an instant all hands were busy in packing knap- 
sacks, rolling tents, and loading up the baggage. Three days' 
cooked rations had been ordered, but their issue, in many 
cases, was not necessary, as the men had supplied themselves 



12 

with a goodly store of more palatable and delicious articles 
of food. In just one hour's time (11 A. M.) after the order 
had been given, all the companies were in line and ready to 
move. Many civilians, friends, and relatives of members of 
tile regiment were in camp witnessing the final preparations 
for the march, and followed the regiment to the city. About 
11 A. M. each company marched out of its street, "A" lead- 
ins, and filing: to the left on Hestonville Road. We reached 
the city about noon, and paraded through the principal 
streets ; marching down Chestnut to Third, thence to "Wash- 
ington Avenue, being loudly applauded and cheered at almost 
every point. The houses along the route were handsomely 
decorated with the national colors, and this, together with 
the "Union window-shutter ties" and the waving of handker- 
chiefs and miniature flags by the ladies and children, made 
up a gay scene. Marching down Washington Avenue to Sec- 
ond Street a halt was ordered ; stacking arms on the north 
side of the avenue, we unslung knapsacks, thence proceeding 
to that noble institution, the " Union Volunteer Refreshment 
Saloon" — and just here I must pause in my narrative to do 
honor, though in a feeble way, to that grandest of all retreats, 
where more than 600,000 mouths were generously filled, and 
where the tired found rest, and the sick and weary comfort 
and medicine. 

[If the city of brotherly love did nothing more than estab- 
lish this refreshment saloon during the rebellion it were 
enough and more too ; but it is not my province to write of 
Philadelphia's wondrous work — the world knows it all. I 
do want to say here, though, that upon many occasions when 
conversing with the men from other States, when told that 
we were from Philadelphia their faces lit up at once and they 
were quick to recognize her care for the soldiers, exclaiming, 
"Oh, yes! that's where they fed us so well." "Yes, that's 
the greatest place in the country!" and "We'll never forget 
that place as long as we live !" And the writers on the late 
war will never cease writing about it, for in almost every 
work one sees something concerning that once great estab- 
lishment on the Delaware, in glorious, generous, enlightened 
Philadelphia.] 



We took position on either side of the long tables, which 
had been prepared expressly for us, and were not long in 
doing justice to the substantial viands with which the tables 
were loaded. The ladies (God bless them) will ever be re- 
membered for their kindness to us. Gentle hands prepared 
neat parcels, which were placed in our haversacks, then tak- 
ing our canteens, they filled them with coifee and milk, think- 
ing nothing they could do for us a trouble. Thus, having 
been well cared and provided for, we, proceeding to our stacks, 
were ordered into line. We now moved out Washington 
Avenue, preceded by our band, which discoursed lively music. 
On arriving at the Baltimore Depot at Broad and Washing- 
ton Avenue a lengthy halt was made, prior to embarkation. 

At the depot an unusually large number of people had con- 
gregated anticipating our arrival ; many of them the relations 
and friends of our men, nearly all holding mysterious looking 
packages intended for some dear one. Many of the volun- 
teers' families were present entire, and here and there could 
be seen the wife holding the little one to kiss the father, and 
in another direction could be seen the father holding his child 
in his arms until the last moment, with mothers, wives, sis- 
ters, and sweethearts clinging to their nearest and dearest ties 
reluctantly. Some little time elapsed before we were ordered 
aboard the train, now in readiness (6.30 P. M.). The crowd 
had increased to a multitude by this time, and an almost in- 
describable scene was being enacted. At length the command 
rang out, " Get aboard!" when each company filed into the 
cars assigned to it, and by 7 P. M. the entire command, num- 
bering 932 all told, were safely "aboard" with but two excep- 
tions, a captain and lieutenant, who remained to take charge 
of some recruits at the rendezvous of their company (K). 

The screeching whistle now gave notice to the surging 
thousands that the boys were going off to the wars indeed, 
for it was not until this moment arrived could they realize 
the fact that they were parting perhaps never to meet again 
on earth, or the great sacrifice which they had been called 
upon to make in order that the Republic, founded, joined, and 
cemented by our forefathers and their blood, might be kept 



14 

together and the plans of the conspirators thwarted. Shortly- 
after daylight of the 13th we arrived safely in "Washington ; 
some little delay was caused in leaving the cars and forming, 
and it was 7 o'clock before the orders were given to move. 
Our first halt was made on the border of the town, before an 
unsightly looking barrack of great dimensions ; our first im- 
pression was that we were going to be domiciled in this shed- 
ding ; but, however, this thought was soon dispelled upon 
casting our eyes about, for we soon discerned a small sign 
above the entrance which read thus: "Soldiers' Retreat;" 
this was the Washington Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, Oh, 
what a striking contrast between the two — ^the Volunteer Re- 
freshment Saloon at Philadelphia and the saloon for refresh- 
ing volunteers at Wasliington. The former might have com- 
pared favorably with the best restaurants in any northern 
city, while the latter, sad to say, was, without comparison, an 
institution peculiar in itself. The tables were of the roughest 
splint-pine boards, bare of any covering whatever; black coffee 
was served in tin-cups from horse buckets, and stale bread 
devoid of taste, cut in slices an inch and a half thick, consti- 
tuted the Sunday morning's meal offered at this place, and 
that was hastily partaken of whilst we stood in the presence 
of a huge slice of the immortal swine which was nailed con- 
spicuously to a post in the centre of the barracks ; tantaliz- 
ingly it seemed to say, "Take a look, that 's all you '11 get." 

Upon reporting his arrival to Gen. Casey, Col. Gosline 
was instructed to encamp his regiment on Kendall Green. 
Gen. Casey's command, to which we were now attached, was 
known as the provisional brigade, was encamped on Kalorama 
Heights and Meridian Hill, and consisted of the following 
troops (at this time): Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth New 
Jersey Volunteers, a battalion of District of Columbia Volun- 
teers, Fourth Pemisylvania Volunteers, Fourth New Hampshire 
Volunteers, and Col. Miller's Eighty-first Pennsylvania Vol- 
unteers, which was assigned on the 13th of October also. We 
now moved in that direction (Kendall Green) and after a short 
march through the outskirts of Wasliington, reached the spot 
selected for our camping-ground. This was just on the brow 



15 

of a pretty green hill, about two miles north of the Capitol, it 
was called Kendall Green in honor of its owner, Hon. Amos 
Kendall, who was at this time living in Texas ; it had been 
the camping spot of the famous Sixty-ninth ]^ew York, of 
" Bull's Run" notoriety, and its lovely, velvety appearance 
gave a charm to the deep forests beyond, whose stately oaks 
were now beginning to change their clothing. 

On the 23d October, Colonel Gosline received orders from 
Gen. Casey to parade his regiment on the twenty-fourth, the 
latter having selected the command as escort to the remains of 
the late Colonel Baker (1st California Regiment), who was 
killed in the affair at Ball's Bluff" on the twenty-first of Oc- 
tober, 1861. 

Our regiment at this time was much admired for its hand- 
some appearance, and had in a brief space of time won many 
friends in Washington. It was indeed an honor to have been 
selected for such an office as this, in the presence of so many 
older and well-disciplined troops now in Washington, not a 
few of whom were of the regular army. We were as yet 
untaught in the manual of arms, especially in the funeral ex- 
ercises. At so short a notice, it could hardly be expected 
that the men could be thoroughly instructed in these points, 
but Colonel Gosline resolved to " put them through." The 
previous day had been wet, and the ground was unfavor- 
able for drilling ; but at 4 P. M., we were on the parade 
ground, and quite a lengthy course of instructions in " load- 
ing," and " firing," and the " reverse," and " ground arms," 
with the always awkward " fix" and " unfix bayonets" passed 
through. It was quite amusing to see how some of the men 
who, probably never, previous to the Rebellion, handled a 
musket, managed to manipulate the heavy and clumsy wea- 
pons with which we were armed. Many were in the act of 
" grounding," whilst others were raising their pieces ; and in 
the other movements vice versa. After a few lessons, however, 
we, with wonderful adroitness, overcame these (at first seem- 
ingly difficult exercises), and with a short instruction on the 
morning of the 24th, prior to leaving camp, exhibited a marked 
improvement in all these movements. 



16 

SooD after 10 o'clock on the morning of the 24th we moved 
from our camp (as we have before stated, to attend the obse- 
quies of the late Colonel Baker), and about one hour later 
halted, near the residence of Colonel Webb, Fourteenth andH 
Streets, where, after a short rest, we moved on the right of 
the line, with our rig-ht restins: on Thirteenth Street. At noon 
precisely we moved off, left in front, down Thirteenth Street 
to Pennsylvania Avenue, thence to the Congressional Ceme- 
tery, a short distance east of the Capitol. At the conclusion 
of the lengthy and impressive ceremonies, the Ninety-fifth fired 
three volleys over the grave of the lamented dead General and 
Senator, from an elevated position a few paces off. These 
volleys had a saddening eftect as they echoed through the little 
valley in which the remains then reposed. It was 5 o'clock 
when we reached our camp at "Kendall Creen," somewhat 
tired and hungry. 

A few extracts from the journal of the writer at this time 
will no doubt be listened to (read) with interest. 

On the 28th of October we paraded at 10 A. M., soon after 
marching to Washington, by way of Seventh Street, and halt- 
ing on the beautiful high ground, known as Capitol Hill. 
Here about thirteen regiments had assembled to take part in 
a grand review, ordered by Gen. McClellan. About 2 P. M. 
the review began, and was witnessed by many of the citizens 
of Washington, as well as a great number of strangers from 
other parts. Early in the day Colonel Gosline received orders 
to the eftect that his reo-iment had been assio-ned to the bri- 
gade of Gen. Oliver 0. Howard, the same order instructing 
him to march on the twenty-ninth, and report to that ofiicer for 
duty near Bladensburg, Maryland. In accordance with these 
instructions, marching orders were issued to the several com- 
panies on the same evening. At this review we obtained our 
first glance of Gen. McClellan, and many stretched their necks 
eagerly over the field after the " Young Napoleon." McClellan 
expressed himself delighted with the " Gosline Zouaves," and 
was more than once heard to say, " good, good, my boys," as 
some bit of fancy marching which the regiment did pleased 
him. Gen. McClellan at once took measures to have the order 



17 

assignin^o. the " Gosline's" to Howard's Brigade abrogated, 
which caused us some double marching a few'dajs later. 

On the 29th (Oct.) reveille was beaten at 5 A. M. Im- 
mediately after breakfast we were ordered to break camp. 
About 9 o'clock we took up the line of march, reaching 
" Camp Union," Bladensburg, some eight miles distant, about 
noon. We were here brigaded with the Fourth Rhode Island 
Volunteers, Colonel Isaac P. Rodman and the Sixty-first New 
York Volunteers, Colonel Spencer W. Cone (a regiment which 
afterward furnished two famous Generals to the service, Fran- 
cis C. Barlow and I^elson A. Miles). Colonel Miller's regiment 
(Eighty-first Pennsylvania), was also assigned to Howard's Bri- 
gade at that time. 

Orders were given, on the arrival of the oflicers' baggage and 
camp equipage, to " pitch tents in regular order ;" but while 
thus engaged, and when about half way through with the 
work, another order was issued, to " be ready to move at 5 
A. M. on the 30th." This last notice was not received in the 
same spirit as its predecessor, for we had not yet begun to 
realize the fickleness of military orders, especially those re- 
lating to encampments. The tents, however, were pitched 
in a temporary manner, and towards evening our band en 
livened the scene with sweet music. 

On the 30th (Oct.) reveille was beaten at 5 A. M., when we 
struck tents, and about 9 o'clock took up the line of march 
to the tune of "Carry me back to Ole Virginia Shore." Our 
place in the brigade being taken by the Fifth New Hampshire, 
Colonel Edward E. Cross, moving ofl:' on the Washington Pike, 
passing Fort Lincoln, after a dusty march of about seven miles, 
we arrived in the neighborhood of the Long Bridge, near the 
junction of Maryland Avenue and Fourteenth Street, now 
about 1.30 o'clock. Here the beautiful Potomac met our 

gaze, and that remarkable structure — the Long Brido-e 

darted before us, in its mile of length, like some disjointed 
street swung for our accommodation. 

Having obtained a few moments' rest and some refreshments 
of " tack" and pork, we again resumed our march, and reached 
the Virginia shore about 2 A. M., passing through the gates 



18 

of Fort Jackson. About 6.30 A. M. we entered Alexandria 
in splendid order witli our band playing "Captain Shep- 
plierd's Quick Step." This seemed to inspire each man with 
new vigor and prepare him for the long journey yet ahead. 
]\Iarching the entire length of the town, we passed out at its 
southern extremity, and crossing Hunting Creek, a small trib- 
utary of the Potomac, continued southward beyond Fort Lyon. 
By this time the day was far advanced and we began to think 
that something must be wrong. What could it be? Now 
and then a halt was ordered, then a forward movement, what 
did it mean? "Are we ordered to Mt. Vernon?" ran through 
the ranks. For we were not a great distance from that place. 
No ! After some delay it was discovered that the guide who 
had been sent with Col. Gosline had taken the wrong road ; 
instead of turning to the right at King Street and marching 
out the Leesburg Turnpike, he had led us almost due south. 
So soon as this mistake was discovered the order to " face 
about" was given, and, marching left in front, we began a 
retrograde movement which might have proved our entire 
annihilation, had not Providence interposed, in the shape of 
some wise precautionary measures, but a moment in time. 

Marching in a northwesterly direction across the country 
towards Fairfax Seminary, our guide thought to lessen the 
distance to Gen. Franklin's headquarters (our point of desti- 
nation being near that place). But in so doing he had led the 
regiment nearly up to the guns of Fort Ellsworth (blunder 
No. 2), the garrison of which had no knowledge of our being 
on the road, and already alarmed, were prepared to give us a 
warm reception with grape and canister, having taken us to 
be a body of the enemy, coming from the direction which we 
did and through the darkness, now about 9 P. M. A halt 
was at once ordered and an explanation made, when we were 
ordered on. Passing Fort Ellsworth, we struck a road run- 
ning between Shuter's Hill and Alexandria Heights. Cross- 
ing the Leesburg Turnpike we marched north, and about 
10.30 P. M. arrived at the headquarters of Brig.-Gen. John 
Newton, having been assigned to the command of that officer, 
which formed the third brigade of Gen. Franklin's division 



19 

of the Army of the Potomac (which organization had just 
been completed). 

Passing through the camp of the Eighteenth New York 
Volunteers, we halted just a little north of their encampment 
and occupied " Camp Franklin," previously used by Col. J. 
McLeod Murphy's Engineers (Fifteenth N. Y. S. V.). As 
soon as our arrival became known throughout the brigade, a 
general feeling of friendship sprung up which will never be 
forgotten. Tents and cook-houses were thrown open alike, 
and shelter and food given to our fatigued and hungry men. 

We had marched all day through the dust without food 
save a scant lunch, partaken of before crossing the Potomac. 
To add to the misery of this unfortunate march, the regi- 
mental teams became mired about six miles below, and so 
remained until the next day. Ever green be the love in our 
hearts for the extraordinary kindness of the Eighteenth New 
York. Grateful members of the Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania 
will ever cherish its memory for the manner in which they 
were entertained by them on that occasion, and the kindly 
fire kindled that night to warm us burned brightly to the 
end. The two regiments seemed not to live for themselves 
alone but for each other ; and often on the weary march and 
on the bloody battle-field shared one another s fare. This 
friendly feeling existed alike in both ofiScers and men. 

The morning of the 31st was bracing and bright. Some- 
what rested and refreshed we began clearing the ground, and 
upon the arrival of our teams about 10 A. M. (for which it 
was necessary to send a detail to help them out of their diffi- 
culties), we began the work of arranging camp in the fol- 
lowing order : — 

A, F, D, I, and C right wing, B, G, K, II, and E left wing, 
with the company's streets running east and west. 

The "A" or "wedge" tents being pitched on the north and 
south sides with all the uniformity of military precision ; at 
the eastern approach to each company's street was pitched the 
oflicers' marques, and east of these, and about the centre ot 
the eastern boundary was the colonel's headquarters and regi- 
mental stafl:', the whole forming a delightful retreat and 



20 

pretty encampment. The western approach was reserved for 
a drill and parade ground, and being level it therefore offered 
splendid advantages for field movements. This land was a 
part of the property belonging to the Rebel General Robert E. 
Lee, and was about two miles and a half west of Alexandria 
and about midway between the Leesburg Turnpike and the 
Alexandria, Loudon, and Hampshire Railroad, in the vicinity 
of Four Mile Run — a small stream which flows into the Poto- 
mac about four and a half miles above Alexandria. 

Gen. Franklin's Brigade (now Newton's) was organized on 
the 4th of August, 1861, and was the Seventh Brigade of 
Gen. McClellan's "preliminary organization," at that time 
the "Division of the Potomac;" it was now composed of the 
following troops, viz., Eighteenth ]S'ew York Volunteers 
(Albany Rifles), Col. William A. Jackson; Thirty-first Few 
York Volunteers ("Montezuma Battalion"), Col. Calvin E. 
Pratt; Thirty-second New York Volunteers (First California), 
Col. Roderick Matherson; and the Ninety-fifth Regiment 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, at this time known as the Forty- 
fifth Pennsylvania. 

The troops of Franklin's Division, with two or three excep- 
tions, had taken part in the battle of Bull's Run, Franklin's 
old Brigade being then under the command of Col. Thomas 
A. Davis, whose own regiment, the Sixteenth New York 
(now of Slocum's Brigade), was also attached to his command. 

Col. Davis's command in the battle of Bull's Run consti- 
tuted the Second Brigade of the Fifth Division. 

Thus it will be seen that Newton's Brigade, first com- 
manded by Col. Davis (afterward Brigadier General), next by 
General Franklin, became the nucleus around which the great 
Sixth Corps in the Army of the Potomac grew up and sj)read 
its branches over so many bloody fields in the South ; extend- 
ing its power and increasing its might until it became a terror 
to the conspirators and branded its appellation — the " Bloody 
Sixth" — with fire and sword upon the Confederacy, and 
lapped the last gore from the Rebellion's heart through the 
veins of Petersburg. One or two incidents of our camp life 
m old Camp Franklin may not be uninteresting at this time. 



21 

On the 10th of February we experienced our first difficulty 
with the bayonet — for the drill known as "McClellan's Bayo- 
net Exercise," was to be added to our manual. We had 
already had squad, company, battalion, and brigade drill; 
skirmish drill and target shooting, and now the "French" or 
" McClellan's Bayonet Exercises" must have a place in our 
code of tactics. 

It would be difficult to conceive more ludicrous attitudes 
than those presented in this exercise. To at once assume the 
proper position was a difficulty not easily overcome, and re- 
quired much practice. It was, too, the first time we had ever 
attempted anything so intricate in the way of drill requirino- 
so much skill and fine judgment, and it was no wonder when 
the command "guard" was given that many did not know 
what to do, and in following the example set by a non-com- 
missioned officer, that they at once endeavored to imitate a 
pair of scissors stuck in the ground, or a half-imbedded cork- 
screw struggling for liberty, and it was no wonder that when 
the command was given, " leap to the rear," that many lost 
their equilibrium and went head over heels, greatly to the 
amusement of their comrades, who had acted " leap frog" a 
little more satisfactorily to themselves. However, time and 
much persistent drilling brought about the desired result, and 
long ere the spring opened all these difficulties had been over- 
come.* 



* Attached to the regiment was a drum and fife corps, which, after 
much persistent practice, upon reaching the field, became a useful adjunct 
to the command. Recruits for a drum corps generally were taken into the 
woods adjacent to their camp, and there taught to beat the drum for 
several hours a day, until they became proficient. The first exercise given 
to a pupil on the drum is " De Dada, mama," " dada, mama," and is known 
as " Daddy, Mammy." The racket and din kept up by the students of this 
noisy instrument were something awful, and gave rise to the following 
rhymes : — 

" Dada mama," " dada mama," 
" Dada mama," dada mama." 
" Flamadiddle," " Paraddidie," 
" Flamadiddle," " Paradiddle." 
"Do," "Do," "Do," 

8 



00 



At dress parade one morning a little incident occurred 
which created quite a stir in camp. About midway on the 
parade ground was a certain mark to indicate the command- 
ing officer's position when the battalion was on parade. At 
this spot some one had placed a very neat, square package, 
done up in white paper and marked thus — 
" Fit for hogs, not for Goslines." 

On this object the keen eyes of Col. Gosline soon fell, and 
during the formation of the battalion he picked up the pack- 
age and examined its contents — finding it to contain about 
half a dozen flint-like and mildewed army crackers (having 
stamped upon one side "Pilot Bread, 1810"), which were so 
worm-eaten and mouldy that they could not be used by the 
men. Some persons unknown to the colonel had placed this 
package as we have just stated. It is useless to say to those 
who knew Col. Gosline, that a few hours later two companies 
of the Ninety-fifth were seen wending their way towards the 
Little River Turnpike for a three days' tour of picket duty, 
and it was not their regular turn either. 



All day long I hear some kid, till 
Weary of the drum I grow. 
"Yankee Doodle," " Wood Up," •' General," 
"Doublings," "Troop," and "Saul" for funeral, 
" Double Quick," " Retreat," and "Water Call," 
" Police," " Cease Firing," and '■ beat" for " drummers all," 
'• Peas upon" ^'^ Entrenchments,'" "Come, get your Quinine," 
The " Quick Retreat." "Attention," — " fall in" — line 1 
"All Sergeants Call " 'IMiose ebony devils o'er 

The parchment roar. 
And thus it is the Sergeants answer — 

"'All present, or accounted for.'" 

How I wish his " dad lie-diddle," 

" Double Drag," and " fiddle-faddle," 

" Ruff." and " Flam," and " Paradiddle ;" 
"Tattoo," "Taps," and "Single Draggle," 

Had followed the cow in " High ding diddle." 
Or. been with " Mac" in some "Skedaddle," 

Ere he learned to "diddle daddle." 

Camp near White Oak Church, Va., February, 1863. 



23 



The long clrearj winter past, and the seeds of discipline 
sown in Camp Franklin were to brine, forth their fruit Our 
promenade with the Army of the Potomac to Fairfax Court- 
Honse and Manassas and return, through disappointment and 
mud, to our old camp, were choice morsels for army gossip • 
then came the second movement in the direction of Manassas' 
the detachment of a large portion of McClellan's army (the 
Fii^t Corps now under Gen. McDowell, of which the Ninety- 
hfth was a part) which breaking into our Chiefs plans, Gen 
J rankhn, our first and beloved division Commander, called 
the 'First Great Crime of the War." Doubtless many of 
you, my comrades, remember the gusto occasioned by the re- 
ception of an order received whilst on the march from Bristoe 
btation, a locality remembered only for its misery and red 
clay, to -about-flice" and return to Alexandria, and it was 
this order that bent our course Peninsulaward. At West 
Point, on the seventh of May (1862), the Ninety-fifth received 
Its baptism of fire, and had the honor of opening the fi-ht at 
that place ; here its first blood was spilled for the Union and 
Its first experience in the horrors of war obtained. Captain 
Beattes, of Company D, was the first commissioned ofiicer of 
the regiment wounded, and was the victim of an explosive 
bullet. Here we encountered the famous '' Texas Rano-ers" 
and Wade Hampton's "Legion" of South Carolina, and'also 
saw for the first time, what we had often read about, our men 
with their throats cut and bodies shockingly mutilated 
The fighting was done principally by Newton's Brigade, the 
Thirty-first New York Volunteers and Ninety-fifth Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers sustaining the greatest loss. 

Our arrival before Richmond, reached by pleasant canton- 
ments among^he sweet pines* of Virginia, and encampment on 

* The Pines of Virginia often played an important part in the history of 
our army life, and were many times the theme of some poetic effusion The 
erection of bowers to ward off the sunbeams ; construction of picket-huts and 
corduroying the roads. The use of pine wood for fuel which, when green 
would emit a nasty, disordering smoke, damaging to the sight We used 
to cut pine branches with which to decorate our camp on festive occasions and 
many times, whilst on the march through some dense thicket, have had the 



24 

the border of the miasmatic Clnckahomiiiy in the midst of 
diarrhtea and death are among the things we never can forget. 

s|)riiigy limbs of some stubborn bush fly back and switch our faces. The 
charcoal burner, also, had his abode in the pines, before Richmond. The 
following lines were written after a varied experience among the pines, much 
like the above, and are supposed to be an Eastern soldier addressing the 
pines upon different occasions. The lines should be read in a nasal tone of 
voice, and after the manner of an address. 

"YANK IN THE PINE WOODS." 

(Building picket huts.) 
Oh! vegetable coniferous ! 
Conoid and conoidical ! 
Consanguineous of the "Balm of Gilead," 

Conjunctively sylvanus. 
We conquassate, or " Yank" thy l)ranclies, 
And in consarcination we confiscate thee for our ranches. 

(Erecting summer bowers.) 
Oh ! vegetable resinous ! 
We " Yanks" guess 

That thy mellifluent branches will "just" shelter our '"mess," 
Whilst we, like old Bouzebeiis, sing. 
Or with the rozin'd bow torment the string 
Of some old " fiddle" thing. 

(In winter quarters, fires in our huts.) 
Oh ! vegetable lachrymary ! 
Copiously lachrymal ! 
Dost ever. — don't say " nary" — 

Note the hvchrymation 
Thou causest us to lachrymate, 
When we ignite thy limbs a little " ig" to circulate, 
And our " dwellings" to illuminate ? 

Oh ! much vexed question of light and vim. 
Fain would we douse thy glim. 
Or ajis thy dark — black — effluvium. 
Thou sight disorderer unto our " mess," 
And disturber of our lithargickness. 

(Repairing and corduroying the roiuis.) 
Down, busy devil, down, and say I laid thee there, 
One more " corduroy" thy "seat" to repair. 



25 

On the 18tli clay of June we crossed the Chickahominy, and on 
the 27th of the sanie month the disjomted battle of Gaines Mill 



Repair'd, alas ! not as " mammy" docs with stitches, 
But plastered fast to thine old corduroy •' breeches," 
Perhaps, a blessing from some tired mule we may inherit, 
(For this noble action of our spirit) 

Or, a "cuss" from the woodowner in which "cuss" you " bet' 
The " Yanks" are never left, no not a cuss'd bit. 

(Marching through the pine woods.) 
Inspissated turpentine, or wine, or juice of the pine ! 
Or, by whatever name thou art turned into rhin — 
! low limbed, stiff-stem'd setaceous vegetable. 
Serviceable, &«A:erable and ^i'ed^itable, 

Dost ever think, 
How thine elastic and switchback branches 

Cause us to wink ? 

(In the pines before Richmond.) 

Tar, pitch, or turpentine, 

Or by any other line (of names by which thou art known), 

Thou art a mine (of wealth) 

To thep/x liquida calx of old North K-line, 

When charr'dfrom Jersey pine and just now our uncle's 
clime requires some such incineration from another of thy 
bosky relation (willow) to aid him at his ignivomous 
station, which literally translated, or by other name 
means, 

Vomiting fire into Richmond-on-the-Jeem's. 

(Among the pine saplings.) 
Spinous spiral, thou has no spissitude 

(That is grossness or backbone.) 
Like thy giant relatives bearing larger cone. 

Uncle Samuel's boys, therefore. 
Will not tackle thee with incendiary paw. 
But spare thy funicular limbs, 
For other lore. 

(Among the pines, Christmas times.) 
Oh! vegetable coniferous — noel-like — Christmas, 
Yet, thou art not the tree — Christmas — for our " mess." 
Ours be a crimson one, 
Trimmed by some " son-of-a-gun," 
To make the "Johnnies" run ; 
There be " nary" a sugar-plum 
For us in this business. 



26 

— the 2d in that sanguinary series, known as the seven days 
before Richmond was fought. The story of this battle (Gaines 
Mill) is a tragic one, sanguinary, terrible. It was here that the 
brave and soldierly Colonel Qosline fell. It was here that 
that brave soldier, Major Hubbs fell, and Lieutenant Ham- 
ilton Donohue was killed. Captain Edward Carroll and 
Lieutenant Hugh 0. Roberts were wounded, and Lieutenant 
Thomas D. G. Chapman was taken prisoner. And it was 
here that, when the night shut out the horrors of the day, we 
came to realize that nearly two hundred of the J^inety-fifth's 
officers and men were stiff and bleeding, one hundred and 
sixty-nine being afterwards accounted for as killed and 
wounded, and more than twenty-two hundred of our division 
were dead or gasping in the thick woods and marshy places 
along the Chickahominy. 

The Ninety-fifth shared in all the engagements and fatigues 
of the memorable period — McClellan's chaiige of base — and 
reached the James River on the 2d of July. On the 15th of 
August, at the evacuation of Harrison's Landing, we marched 
to l^ewport News, and from this point reached Alexandria by 
transport. A few days much-needed rest was here enjoyed, 
and some new clothing distributed to the men. The terrible 
scenes now transpiring on the plains of Manassas, and in the 
vicinity of Bull's Run, in Pope's command, suddenly put a stop 
to this brief respite, and the regiment with its corps in a 
forced march, after much dallying, reached the ill-omened 
battle-field just when the red tide of destruction began to lash 
the wreck it had made, and hurl the debris upon the high hills 
thereabouts ; it was here, and at this time, that the tide of 
death was stayed, and the enemy put back to sea. The battle 



(Cutting evergreens for our tents.) 
We fub thy death, 

Thou needled prickly devil ! 

And that's where these coniferous Yankee caputs are level, 
We shall content ourselves by plucking the sweet cedars hereabouts, 
Our tents to grace. 
And leave thy pesky knouts, 
'I'o our foes cinque pace. 

Near Bank's Ford, Va. (Burnside's Mud March), Jan. 22, 1863. 



27 

and storming of Crompton's Pass, in the South Mountain, on 
the 14th of September, 1862, was a brilliant little aftair, and it 
was all our own; I mean, it was the work of our first division. 
It was a beautiful Sabbath morning, in the early autumn, and 
it was a glorious victory ; the first after so many defeats, it 
acted as a new inspiration. It was here that the Ninety-fifth 
in advance of its brigade, in a spirited charge up the acclivi- 
ties of South Mountain, nearly one thousand feet above the 
level of the green fields at its base, put the rebels to route, 
capturing many prisoners, a piece of artillery, and the entire 
paraphernalia of Anderson's rebel division. The gun taken 
by us was a pet piece with our enemy, having the name 
" Jennie" painted upon the limber, and some other lettering 
which stated that it was presented to a Georgia battery by 
the patriotic ladies of that State. Horses, caisson, all com- 
plete, were captured with the " Jennie." The Xinety-fifth 
next marched with its division to Antietam. We were hur- 
ried into that action just as Stonewall Jackson's victorious men 
were sweeping the forests and ploughed fields in the vicinity 
of the little Dunker Church, and the scene was blue with 
fleeing Nationals. "We were hastily formed from a marching 
to a charging column, and though worn down with fatigue 
and worried by heat and dust, we forced the Confederates back 
to "bloody lane" and "Hooker's woods," holding the ground 
in front of the " Dunker Church" and the " dead line," " bloody 
cornfield" and " bloody lane," receiving the congratulations 
of Generals Franklin, Slocum, and Newton, for this opportune 
stay of a fresh onslaught of the enemy. The battle of Fred- 
ericksburg, December 12th to 16th (a dire failure), was a dark 
period for us ; we were under a new commander — Gen. Burn- 
side — and this disaster to our arms led to the darkest times in 
our Nation's history, no pay from " Uncle Sam," loud com- 
plaints about our Commissary, and "shoddy" clothing, sick- 
ness, death, desertion, and " Burnside stick-in-the mud," in 
which we all took a miry bath, followed. Under Gen. Hooker, 
Burnside's successor, in February, 1863, our condition was 
much improved, and we enjoyed a season of rapid changes for 
the better ; Gen. Hooker's mode of procedure worked miracles 



28 

in the Army of the Potomac, and the darkness which o'erhung 
the Union camps was soon dispelled, and in a few weeks' 
time our new commander, " Fighting Joe," succeeded in orga- 
nizing what he was pleased to term the finest army on the 
planet. On the 28th of Ajjril, 1863, we left our winter camp — 
our comfortahle quarters around White Oak Church — and at 
the first peep of day on the 29th accomplished a hazardous 
undertaking, for which we of the Ninety-fifth, and one other 
regiment — the One hundred and nineteenth Pennsylvania — had 
been especially selected. This was the crossing of the Rappa- 
hannock, surprising the enemy's pickets, and the seizure of 
liis works, which commanded the vicinity of Franklin's cross- 
ing. With what trembling anxiety we embarked in those 
shaky, unwieldy scows, the forty pontoons set apart for our 
mission, these remitiiscences may awaken the mind afresh to. 
And freighted down as we were, too, provisioned for eight 
days, and transformed into portable ammunition mfigazines, 
for we had one hundred rounds of cartridges hidden somewhere 
about us in our secret places for thunder. Do you ever think 
of those times, boys, without heaving a sigh of relief ? On 
the 3d of May, about noon, our gallant second division, under 
Gen. Howe, stormed and carried Mary's Heights, the Gibraltar 
of Virginia, and the blood hill of 1862. The 3d of May was a 
beautiful Sabbath day, and the trees and bushes were all redo- 
lent with the songsters of Old Virginia ; but there were other 
songsters in Old Virginia at this time, and these were Sedg- 
wick's boys in blue ; we were happy, shouting and singing ; 
the Heights were ours, and the celebrated Washington Battery 
was among the trophies won. 

Let me give you a little picture of what befell our first 
division. As usual, it was another battle Sunday. How we 
quicken our pace as we enter Fredericksburg, and seek its en- 
virons ; our first division now takes the lead, and how we 
snuff the fray impatiently a little way off". Russell's Brigade, 
at this time consists of two small battalions, the One hun- 
dred and nineteenth and Xinety-fifth Pennsylvania. Its com- 
panions, two years' troops are upon another part of the field; 
Bartlett's Brigade takes the left of the Gordons vi lie Plank 



29 

Road, and from our gallant " Jersey boys," the first brigade, 
a line of skirmishers is thrown forward. The "Johnnies" are 
on the go, but they halt once in awhile, and dispute the road 
with us. This sort of thing, however, becomes monotonous, for 
we have had about three miles of it, and we make a rush, 
bent upon making a big haul of the enemy, and clearing the 
way for a free advance, that we may join the forces on our 
right, to whither we have been ordered. But this was the 
beginning of the disaster of the day, on our part of the line. 
Just in front stands Salem Church, which is a kind of citadel 
for our enemy, and as we dash forward the blaze and smoke 
from ten thousand rifles, and a counter-charge of the rebels 
upon either unprotected flank, send us back to the shelter of 
our batteries ; not, however, without much stubborn resist- 
ance on our part ; 'tis a fearful moment, and the batteries on 
both sides are aiding in the work of destruction ; that old 
and peculiar "yell" is heard above the din, and the air 
trembles with strange noises. McLaw's and Anderson's Divi- 
sions have reached this part of the field, sent down from 
Lee's front, and our devoted little band of ten small battalions 
are now out-flanked and o'erwhelmed. Again the JSTinety- 
fifth has been torn to pieces, and many of its noblest soldiers 
bite the dust whilst struggling in their bloody rags. 

Our gallant Col. Town, whose heroic form lent a certain 
charm to our soldier life, was killed whilst inspiring in sten- 
torian tones his little command to deeds of valor. That true 
and gentlemanl}^ soldier, Lieut.-Col. Elisha Hall, was also 
killed. Adjutant Eugene D. Dunton was killed, and Major 
Thomas J. Town was painfully wounded ; nearly two hun- 
dred of the Ninety -fifth's officers and men were down, and 
the regimental organization completely shattered. Thirteen 
commissioned oflScers, five of whom were killed and eight 
Avounded, and one hundred and sixty -nine enlisted men were 
killed and wounded, and thirty-seven prisoners were the total 
casualties in the j^inety-fifth in this engagement. Xever did 
men bear up better under adversities like these than did that 
handful of heroes of the Ninety-fifth when ordered to picket 
the field the night of that battle. 



30 

On the 6tli of June the Ninety-fifth crossed the Rappahan- 
nock for the third time, and shared in the dangerous opera- 
tions on its former line, Mary's Heights and Fredericksburg; 
and in that great campaign, the second Maryland, Pennsyl- 
vania, and Gettysburg, it was with Sedgwick when the Sixth 
Corps made the greatest march on record to reach any battle- 
field. Thirty-nine miles in nine hours' marching, and it 
reached the field, too, when its presence was most needed, 
burnt out by a July sun and almost unrecognizable by dust. 

On the third of July it shared in the manoeuvres of the 
Sixth Corps, when scarcely two bi-igades of that corps were 
together; the major portion of its regiments being sent hither 
and thither to reinforce our struggling comrades. One of the 
cleanest sweeps ever made of the Confederates was that by 
Gen. " Dave" Russell and Col. (afterwards Maj.-Gen.) Emory 
Upton's brigades at Rappahannock Station on the 7tli of 
[N'ovember, 1863. 

More than sixteen hundred prisoners (chiefly from the cele- 
brated " Louisiana Tigers"), eight battle flags, four cannon, 
two thousand small arms, and one pontoon bridge were the 
trophies in this pretty afltair, and the Ninety-fifth had a share 
in it. 

^leade's campaign of manoeuvres, which culminated in the 
battle of Locust Grove on the 27th of November, 1863, and 
our suflterings in the demonstrations in the Wilderness, on the 
line of Mine Run, in the stormy and bitter weather of De- 
cember, closed a year in which we had enjoyed but little rest. 

Our encampment on the romantic Hazel River, in Culpepper 
County, on the property of the celebrated John Minor Botts, 
was a season of real enjoyment, and our camp-fires burned to 
some purpose. We had crossed the Hazel by special permis- 
sion, and our pretty encampment in one of Botts's stately 
forests, with its marvellous cabins and officers' quarters, all 
the handiwork of Yankee craftsmen, was a wonder in its 
way, with its miles of corduroy footways. It was called the 
model camp in the Army of the Potomac, and was more than 
once the subject of correspondence North. 

Whilst at this camp two hundred and forty -five of the 



31 

original members of the ;N"inety-fifth re-enlisted for a second 
term of service, being tbe first regiment in the Army of the 
Potomac to re-enlist as an organization, and the value of this 
example set by the regiment to the army. Gen. Upton was 
not slow to acknowledge in his indorsement upon all our regi- 
mental documents at this time. 

However, the spring of 1864 drew nigh and with it a new 
commander. Gen. Grant, who made his headqiiarters with us, 
and the Army of the Potomac was reorganized. "We began 
the great campaign under Grant on the 4th of May, 1864, 
reaching the Wilderness the evening of that date. From 
now until the crossing of the James River the story is one of 
blood and carnage, and for forty days and nights it was one 
continuous battle. Our beloved and much lamented Lieut.- 
Col. Edward Carroll ("• Lame j^ed," as the boys delighted to 
call him) was killed whilst in command of the regiment on 
the 5th, shot dead almost at the first volley from the hidden 
foe in one of the waste places of nature in the Wilderness, so 
wild and forbidden that we were compelled to crawl like 
snakes whilst worming our bodies through some devilish entan- 
glement. 

In the evening of tiie 6th of May the ISrinety-fifth was 
caught in the whirlwind which demolished the right of our 
line, under Seymour and Shaler, and with its little brigade 
was dashed to pieces; but, thank God, we had a Sedgwick, an 
Upton, and a Russell with us, who quickly put the pieces to- 
gether again, and the illustrious Wright and Upton, with the 
aid of the "North Star" mended the entire right flank of our 
army. It was the Ninety-fifth boys that Upton chose to assist 
him in this dangerous work amidst the blackness of darkness, 
and we succeeded too. 

On the 8th we shared in the preliminary engagements in 
reaching Spottsylvania Court House — Alsop's Farm — and on 
the 9th, a day long to be remembered, the enemy robbed us 
of our corps chief, grand old John Sedgwick, the sublime, who 
was so familiarly known to us all as " Uncle John." 



32 

" Oh noble Sixth Corps— tried and true Sixth Corps, 
Though you have been saddened by the death of many comrades, 
Did you ever weep for a comrade like this? 
Are your deeds so high, your banners so glorious now. 
That he who directed them is fallen ? 

Are your lost ones so low, now that he slumbers among them? 
Ah, well may you speak softly. 
Lips that have shouted defiance ; 

Well may you toll softly guns that have rung conquest at his will. 
He sleeps ! Let the battle sleep for a time — 
He honored the battle, let the battle do him honor." 

On the bloody lOtli of May the regiment was on the skir- 
mish line, and towards evening was with the twelve picked 
regiments which stormed and carried the rebel works upon 
the ridges around Spottsylvania Court House, charging into 
that hell caldron near the famous salient, capturing nearly 
eleven hundred prisoners and nine cannon besides numerous 
colors and accomplishing the destruction of two rebel bri- 
gades— Rodes' and Doles'. This charging column was again 
led by the gallant young Upton, and its glorious results were 
the first approach to victory since the opening of the cam- 
paign. The price paid for it, though, was a great one — our 
best blood being poured out. Unfortunately, however, the 
captured works could not be held, and we were obliged to 
retire leaving the guns behind. 

On the 12th of May took place the most desperate struggle 
of which history gives an}^ account. The battle at Spottsyl- 
vania Court House — the " Bloody Angle," the " Slaughter 
Pen." This was the point of Gen. Hancock's /f«7 cV amies at 
day-dawn on the 12th. The battle raged furiously for four- 
teen hours, and it was here that we cut down the famous red 
oak ; it was here that within a space of three hundred yards 
thirteen hundred and twenty dead rebels, all shot in and about 
the head and face, lay the next morning. It was here, too, 
that every mounted ofiicer and man was dismounted in a 
moment of time, and it was here that we expended four hun- 
dred rounds of ammunition per man. And it was here that 
the Ninety-fifth won imperishable laurels. 

We append in a note what Gen. Upton says in his ofllcial 



33 

report concerning that action, and which he a short time 
before his unhappy end repeated in a letter to the writer.* 



* " Fort Monroe, Ya., 

August 31, 1878. 
Dear Sir : — 

The following are some of the facts relative to the battle at the "Angle," 
near Spottsylvania C. H., on the twelfth of May, eighteen hundred and 
sixty-four. 

On the morning of that day the Sixth Corps was in rear of the right of 
the army, but on the receipt of the news that Hancock's Corps had cap- 
tured several thousand prisoners and a large portion of the works in the 
vicinity of the Lendrum House, it was ordered to that point as a support. 
Our brigade was at the rear of the corps, and when the corps got into posi- 
tion, occupied the right of the line. The brigade had scarcely halted when 
I received orders to move in double time to the support of the right of the 
Second Corps. Starting the brigade in double time, the Ninety-fifth Penn- 
sylvania leading, I galloped to the crest at the "Angle," and from thence 
could see the right of our troops extending along the works to the point 
where the twelve regiments of our corps made the assault on the tenth. I 
could also see a second line of works, the same we encountered and captured 
on the tenth ; about one hundred or one hundred and fifty yards in front of 
the line then in our possession. This second line appeared to be unoccupied. 
After reconnoitring the position, I rode back to the head of the Ninety- 
fifth, ordered it to take a steady step, and then conducting it to ti,e crest, 
intending to pass over it and move on to the right of the line. 

But on arriving at the crest I saw that the flank of the troops had been 
turned, and that they had been compelled to abandon the intrenchments to 
the point where I then stood. A moment after, as the head of the Ninety- 
fifth, still marching in double time, crowned the crest, it received the full fire 
of a line of battle, occupying the second line of works, already referred to. 
Instead of attempting to go over the crest, the head of the regiment inclined 
to the right; it then followed the crest until the left or rear rested on the 
works, when I caused the men to lie down and open fire. 

Had the regiment given way, there can be little doubt that the fruits of 
the gallant charge of the Second Corps in the morning would have been lost. 
But in a few moments the One hundred and twenty-first New York, the 
Ninety-sixth Pennsylvania, and the Fifth Maine came to its support; while 
the Jersey Brigade passed into the woods on the right. Shortly after, the 
whole of the First Division, Sixth Corps, was engaged at the "Angle," and 
immediately to its left our right. 

At the point where our line diverged from the works, the Union and Con- 
federate soldiers were face to face. A few yards to the enemy's left (our 
right) were the traverses of a four-gun battery, which had been captured in 
the morning. It was between these traverses, which proved a charnel-house 



34 

One liundrcd and ten of the Ninety-fifth were killed and 
wounded at the Angle, and, strange to say, eleven of the 
wounded men had the left arm amputated. Not more than 
one hundred and thirty-seven men answered roll-call for duty 
in the Ninety-fifth after this battle. 

Two days later, on the 14th, we were thrown across the Ni 
River and participated in one of the hottest little pieces of 
work that it has ever been our lot to engage in. This was a 
diabolical aftair, and was know^n as Bleak Hill or the Gait 
House. A day or two after this our fast thinning brigade 
numbered but eight hundred and thirty muskets, exactly one- 
half with which we had crossed the Rapidan (and the losses 
were tlie same throughout the army). 

The battles of North and South Anna River and destruc- 
tion of the Virginia Central Railroad must not be forgotten, 
and the Ninety-fifth, too, had the honor of being the first in- 
fantry to cross the Pamunkey River, accomplishing this in an 
all-night march with Sheridan's cavalry, in which we caused 
our four-footed brothers to rest first. 



to the Confederates, that they kept up a more or less continuous fire during 
the day, and, as I was informed, till nearly three o'clock next morning, when 
they abandoned the position. 

The tree was not the only evidence of the amount and accuracy of our fire. 
The top logs of the works and the traverses were splintered like brush- 
brooms, while the oak abatis in front was completely shot away. From 
nine-thirty A. M. till about five-thirty P. M., when our brigade was relieved, 
these traverses were immediately in our front, and the front of the other 
brigades of the Sixth Corps which came to our support. 

The " Angle" was first captured by the Second Corps, and during the 
prolonged conflict of nearly eighteen hours, was held chiefly by the Sixth 
Corps. 

A few diys after the battle, Major-General Birney, of the Second Corps, 
volunteered to me the information that in his official report he would give 
to our brigade the credit of saving the day. 

Very truly yours, 

E. UPTON, 
Brevet Maj.-Geu'l U. S. A. 

To G. Norton Galloway, 
Philadelpbia, Pa." 



35 

Our independent movement to within six miles of Richmond, 
Hanover Court House, and Mechanicsville, and spirited com- 
bat with Lee's advance and narrow escape from being cap- 
tured, are memorable events, as are, also, the twelve awful 
days and nights battling at Cool Arbor, June 1st to 13th 
inclusive, where we took and held the only portion of rebel 
works captured by the army. These works were captured 
on the 1st and 3d by a portion of Ricket's (Third) Division 
and Upton's Brigade (First Division) of the Sixth Corps. 
It was a sanguinary piece of work, and a few days after- 
wards we were obliged to live in the earth, eat blood, drink 
bloo-l ; for did we not eat the gory biscuit from out our 
dead brothers' haversacks? and drink the water from the 
only spring we could find, and which hourly our comrades' 
corpses were coloring with their life-blood, picked off by the 
enemy's sharp-shooters. 

We slept with the dead, too, and built our breast-works 
upon them, scooping the earth up with tin cups, plates, and 
bayonets, and in a few days the glacis of these works be- 
came so honeycombed by the enemy's fire that they bled a 
sickening fiuid, most insufferable. Great God ! It was the 
flesh of our comrades melting away, and this was a sojourn 
in phantomdom ; for at night about the battle-field the dead 
stalked, dragging their ghostly garments, as it were, through 
the thousand pools of blood, which by this time had so im- 
pregnated the atmosphere with foul odors, that some fears of 
a pestilence were entertained. 

Grant's forty days and nights' battle ended at Cool Arbor, 
and on the 18th of June we were entrenched, and having our 
brains knocked out in front of Petersburo;. Amons: tlie com- 
missioned officers of the regiment wounded up to this time 
were Adjutant Henry E. Ilindmarsh, and Lieutenants David 
Gordon, Company A (acting Aide-de-camp to Gen. Upton), 
Samuel Topham, Marshall C. Hong, Company I, and Edwin 
McEwen, Company K. 

Our raid to Ream's Station, in support of Wilson's and 
Kautz's Cavalry and return to the works about Petersburg, and 
action at Davis' Farm, conjure up fresh visions of a busy past ; 



36 

nor must it be forgotten that it was a detail of one hundred 
men from the Ninety-fifth that began, and labored assiduously 
upon that celebrated work known as Fort Sedgwick, better 
known as Fort Hell, and it was whilst we were engaged in 
its construction we were suddenly called to the defence of 
AV^ashington and the Capitol, which now owes its existence 
to the brave men of the old Sixth Corps. 

Snicker's Gap, Summit Point or Flowing Spring, in the 
Shenandoah Valley, we can only give a passing word to. 
Opaquon, or Winchester as it is sometimes called, fought on 
the 19th of September, 1864, was a glorious victory to our 
arms. It was here that, when Gen. Upton was so severely 
wounded that he could not get about, set an example to the 
world for bravery almost unparalleled, and showed that the 
American soldier can have no superior when fighting for that 
which is noble and just. Gen. Upton, though racked by. 
pain and sufi:ering, from loss of blood, refused to relinquish 
his command, and was borne o'er the field upon a litter, di- 
recting the battle until victory crowned the day. "Was ever 
such bravery surpassed in man ? 

It was here that that princely soldier, Gen. David Allen 
Russell, our division commander, was shot dead by a cannon- 
ball passing through his body ; he, too, like the brave Upton, 
was wounded (mortally, it was afterwards discovered), and 
would not leave the field until death called him. 

Two days afterwards we were at Fisher's Hill, capturing 
o-uns, colors, and prisoners, and chased Jubal Early through 
the entire night, coming out fourteen miles beyond the battle- 
field in the morning. 

The brilliant aftair at Chapman's Farm, near New Market, 
after a six mile skirmish with the fleeing foe to Mt. Jackson, 
in which the late lamented Captain Byrnes, of Company " F" 
was severely wounded, the double battle of Cedar Creek (Mid- 
dleton), said to be the most remarkable engagement of any 
war, and where our much reduced battalion of re-enlisted vete- 
rans lost nearly two-thirds of those on duty, the destruction 
of Early's arm}- and devastation of the valley are all sacred 
thoughts to us of the dear old Ninety-fifth. 



37 

The original term of the regiment having expired on the 
16th of October, 1864, those officers and men who had not 
re-enlisted for a second term left the field, under command of 
Captain F. J. Randall (Company D), who had been acting 
Major of the regiment (commanding) during a part of the san- 
guinary campaigns just passed through, and reached Philadel- 
phia on the 19th (October). The re-enlisted veterans and re- 
cruits of the regiment, and those of the Ninety-sixth Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers were now re-organized, consolidated, and 
known as the ISTinety-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and Cap- 
tain John Harper (Company I, Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania Vol- 
unteers) was soon after commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of 
the regiment. 

Our work was not yet complete. Returned to Petersburg ; 
an active winter was passed through. The battle at Hatcher's 
Run and the severe fighting in front of Fort Fisher cost us 
many lives. 

During the winter our ranks were filled, and later on the 
strength of the regiment was added to by the presence of 
several new companies. 

On the 2d of April, to the Sixth Corps was assigned the 
honor of breaking the lines of Petei'sburg, and that day the 
Ninety-fifth was in the midst of all the glorj^ which crowned 
that eventful morning's toil, and gave peace to our distracted 
country. The guns, colors, and other paraphernalia of war, the 
capture of which was shared in by the Ninety-fifth, became the 
trophies of the Sixth Corps, and redound to the glory of the 
whole. But it was Corporal Fox of the Ninety-fifth who cap- 
tured the riag of the Confederate Custom-house at Petersburg, 
having been presented with a medal for this act of bravery 
by the United States Congress. 

At the battle of Sailor's Creek, April 6th, the last blood of 
the regiment was spilled. — God bless our noble dead ! 

It was a signal victory over the foe, and a great day for us. 

Suffice it to say now that the Ninety-fifth was with Grant 
at Appomattox Court-house on the 9th of April, 1865. 

During the Ninety-fifth regiment's three years and nearly 
nine months' services, its casualties in battle were eight hun- 
4 



dred and forty officers and men, one hundred and ninety, or a 
little more than one-fourth of these, were killed outright, or 
died of wounds received in hattle. Eleven commissioned offi- 
cers were killed, five of whom were field officers; twice the 
regiment was left without a field officer or Adjutant, and 
passed through the entire campaign from the Rapidan to the 
James. First. Petersburg campaign, Washington, and Shen- 
andoah Valley cam[)aigns without a commissioned field officer. 
As the Xinety-fifth was the most unfortunate regiment in the 
entire service — as to its loss in field-officers — (five were killed 
in battle, and one died from disease, and one was wounded in 
battle) it is believed to have been the healthiest also, but 
thirty-three deaths having occurred from disease ; remarkable, 
when we consider that between twenty-three and twenty-four 
hundred names appear upon the regimental roster. But five 
deaths occurred from accidental wounds, or carelessness. And 
most of the two hundred and eight cases of desertion in the 
regiment occurred soon after the organization reached Wash- 
ington, and later on those who deserted were the " profession- 
als,"' who joined as recruits, induced by the large bounties 
oftered. Many of its members were much below their majo- 
rity, and but few were married, Company E containing but 
four married men. The average age of the members of the 
regiment was 22 years. The ISTinety -fifth was mustered out 
of the United States service on the 17th of July, 1865, and 
reached Philadelphia on the 19th, when it was paid olF, and 
finally discharged on the 24th (July). 



39 

The work of the glorious old Sixth Corps, too, was finished, 
and the achievements wrought by its noble sons were now a 
part of the history of our countr3^ What of the countless 
deeds of that once magnificent body? What of its unparal- 
leled marches ? What of its hundred battles ? What of its 
forty thousand casualties in those battles ? What of its seven 
thousand miles of marching and counter-marching? What 
of its nearly two thousand miles of travel by boat and rail ? 
What of its captures ? What of its prowess in war ? And 
what of its saintly dead ? 

Sedgwick, Russell, Bayard, Taylor, Bidwell. 

'New York : Marsh of the Sixteenth ; Jackson of the Eight- 
eenth ; Daniels of the Thirty-first ; Matherson and Lemon of 
the Thirty-second ; Faxon of the Thirty-sixth ; Wilson, 
Visscher, Wallace, and Fryer of the Forty-third ; Bidwell, 
Johnson, Holt, and Ellis of the Forty-ninth ; Riker and Ilub- 
bell of the Sixty-second ; Higginbotham and Hamblin (the 
latter died soon after the war) of the Sixty-fifth; Townsend of 
the One hundred and sixth ; Dwight, Brower, and Clapp, of 
the One hundred and twenty-second. 

Pennsylvania : Birney of the Twenty-third ; Hulings and 
Miles of the Forty-ninth ; Rippey, Spear, and Crosby of the 
Sixty-first ; Gosline, Town, Hall, Carroll, Harper (the latter 
died soon after the close of the war), and Hubbs of the jN'inety- 
fifth ; Martin of the JSTinety-sixth ; Kohler and Beamish of 
the jSTinety-eighth ; Patterson, McTlwaine, Coleman, and Po- 
land of the One hundred and second ; Truefitt of tlie One 
hundred and nineteenth ; and Moody, Mclvean, and Snyder of 
the One hundred and thirty-ninth. 

New Jersey : Kearney, Collett, and Hatfield of the First ; 
Tucker and Wiebecke of the Second ; Taylor of the Third ; 
Hatch of the Fourth ; Ryerson of the Tenth ; Vredenburg, 
of the Fourteenth ; Fowler and Boeman of the Fifteenth ; and 
Van Houten of the Twenty-first. 

Vermont : Stone and Taylor of the Second ; Dudley of the 
Fifth ; Barney, Crandell and Dwinell, of the Sixth ; Dilling- 
ham of the Tenth; Chamberlain and Buxton of the Eleventh. 

Massachusetts : Parker and Miller of the Tenth. 



40 

Maine : Heath of the Fifth ; Barnham and Haycock of the 
Sixth ; Marshall and Jones of the Seventh. 

Wisconsin : Wheeler and Emery of the Fifth. 

Rhode Island ; Slocum and Ballon of the Second. 

Connecticut: Kellogg and Rice of the Second. 

Massachusetts : Russell of the Seventh. 

Ohio : Mcllwaine of the One hundred and tenth ; and 
Ebiight of the One hundred and twenty-sixth. 

Maryland : Prentiss of the Sixth. Tolles of Wright's Staff 
murdered by guerillas ; Ohlenschlager, of Sheridan's Staff (for- 
merly of Hexamer's Battery, Sixth Corps), murdered by guer- 
illas. To this list might be added the hundreds of Captains 
and Lieutenants of the Sixth Corps who gave up their lives 
that the Republic might live ; and also the thousands of 
heroes from its ranks. 

From its loins (the Sixth Corps) sprang the great school of 
officers, whose names shall live as long as the people of the 
earth shall have power to pronounce them, and deeds of valor 
adorn the pages of history, until types and ink are known no 
more. Well may we point to the Sixth Corps and say, Here 
was John Kewton, the greatest of living engineers, born ; here 
was Slocum born ; here was the dashing Torbert born. Upton, 
the great tactician, McKensie, Brooks, Burnham, Montgomery, 
the two Birneys (David Bell and William) both Major-Generals, 
Davidson, whose name was a terror to the secessionists of Mis- 
souri. The great "Baldy" Smith, Hancock called the superb, 
or as he has been styled the whirlwind of the army of the 
Potomac. Franklin, Kearney, Couch, Devens, Stannard, 
Cochran (John) Shaler, Graham, Peck, Abercrombie, Ayers, 
Davies* (Thomas A.), and the gallant Brevet Major-Oeneral 
N. Martin Curtis (of towering stature, who rose from a captain 
in the Sixteenth New York, and won undying glories at Fort 
Fisher), Howe, Neill, Bartlett, Connor, Lewis, Fisk, Briggs, 
Cobb (Amasa), Brevet Major-General Robert McAllister, 
Campbell, Rowley, Pratt Vinton, Baron Von Vegesack, 
Stoughton, Harry White, Bassett, McClennan, Collier, Jack- 



* On page 20, for " Davis" read " Davies." 



41 

son and Homer, Stoughton, of the First United States Sharp- 
shooters, Allen, Weber, William H. Seward, Jr., Wright, 
Ricketts, Getty, Seymour, Grant (Lewis A.), Keifer (J. War- 
ren) (Speaker of the United States House of Representatives), 
Ballier, Penrose, Edwards, Wheaton, Foster, Hyde, Warner, 
Truex, and Hall. 

A singular fact connected with the history of the Sixth 
Corps is, that it invariably encountered the same troops of the 
enemy upon all general battle-tields, and even when thrown 
into the Valley (Shenandoah), it met its old foe of former 
fields, and captured men for the third and fourth time in dif- 
ferent actions. 

Thus in closing, let us say of the grand old Corps, as Ruskin 
has so beautifully said of the " Fighting Temeraire," American- 
izing a few words : Those sails that strained so full bent into 
the battle — that broad bow that struck the surf aside, enlarging 
silently in steadfast haste, full front to the shot — resistless, 
and without reply — those triple ports, whose chores of flame 
rang forth in their courses, into the fierce revenging mono- 
tone which, when it died away, left no answering voice to rise 
any more upon the sea against the strength of ' the TJnion^ 
those sides that were wet with the long rivulets of ' American' 
life-blood, like press-planks at vintage, gleaming goodly crim- 
son down to the cast and clash of the washing foam — those 
pale masts that stayed themselves up against the war ruin, 
shaking out their ensigns through the thunder, till sail and 
ensign dropped, steep in the death-stilled pause of southern 
air, burning with its witness, cloud of human souls at rest, 
surely for these some sacred care is left in our thoughts, some 
quiet space amid the lapse of ' American' waters. 

We have stern keepers to trust her glory to. Never more 
shall sunset lay golden robe on her, nor starlight tremble on 
the waves that part at her gliding. Perhaps where the low gate 
opens to some cottage garden, the tired traveller may ask, idly, 
why the moss grows so green on its rugged wood ; and even 
the soldier's child lies deep in the war-rents of the wood of 
the " Old Fighting Sixth." 

The last act performed by the Xinety -fifth Pennsylvania as 



42 

an organization, occurred on the 4th day of July, 1866, when 
a majority of its survivors assembled in old Independence 
Square and delivered up the colors intrusted to their care. 
Two war-worn, blood-stained, and bullet-riddled standards* 



* 'I'he old flags carried by the survivors on the occasion of this reunion 
were the original banners borne by them through all the bloody scenes of 
strife until February, 1864 ; the National flag being one of a set of colors 
presented to the regiment at " Camp Franklin" in 1862. 

The following extract, from the writer's diary of that time, tells the story 
of that presentation : — 

" November 11, 1861. At 7 o'clock P. M. a number officers of the regi 
ment met at Col. Gosline's headquarters for the purpose of appointing a 
committee from its number to receive a delegation of gentlemen from Phila- 
delphia, having in charge a set of colors intended for presentation to our 
regiment. Three officers were, after some little deliberation, chosen to rep- 
resent us. Adjutant Dunton being one. It was now agreed that this com 
mittee start early the next morning for Washington, where they arrived at 
10 o'clock (A.M.). Meeting our friends from Philadelphia, they at once 
proceeded to " Willard's" (a famous resort) for rest and refreshment. 

" Reaching Camp Franklin at retreat, our friends Avere entertained by 
Col. Gosline. This party of gentlemen were Dr. Joseph R. Cood, William 
J. Bayne, Charles Hogan, William H. Maurer, Nathan Hall (father of 
Captain Hall), Cornelius Hall, James Daly, Sr., and Mr. Altmyer. 

" The 14th broke with a dull atmosphere and some likelihood of a shower. 
At 9 o'clock A. M. a special dress parade was held, at which our friends 
(the color committee) were treated to some extra manoeuvres on our part, 
and a number of fine selections by our band. At the conclusion of these 
exercises Dr. Cood, in a few patriotic words (and in behalf of our lady 
friends in Philadelphia, to whose patriotic endeavors we are indebted for 
these colors) presented a fine set of colors to the regiment ; the National 
flag being handsomely inscribed, bearing our number and synonyme — 54th 
Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers (Gosline's Pennsylvania Zouaves"). 
Col. Gosline now acknowledged the gift in a brief address. Two silk 
guidons, intended for presentation at this time, did not reach the regiment 
until the last of November. After the ceremonies of presentation had ended, 
the day was given over to a sort of feast of ale and flow of ' Commissary,' 
and in this our neighbors, the 18th New York, shared. An invitation hav- 
ing been given to them to participate in our festivities, Mirth, music, song, 
and ' gymnastics,' crowned the whole, and it was a day we could look back 
to with pleasant memories." 

'I'he idea of this gift of colors originated with a few lady friends of the regi- 
ment in Philadelphia, of whoin Mrs. Mary Ann Gosline (wife of our Colonel) 
was the leading spirit. Mrs. Gosline's associates were Mrs. William H. 



were handed in, which are now at Harrisburg in the keeping 
of the State Government. These tattered banners were all in 
all to ns, and we love their faded folds. What the bald pate 
is to the old man, what the silver tresses are to the aged 
woman, what the seared leaf is to the stately forest oak, what 
the whitened grass is to the parched field, and what the pale 
drooping leaf and narrowless pithy stalk are to the shining 
golden ear peeping out from its snug wrapper, and what the 
dutiful child is to the aged mother who, after her strong life 
and care and warfare with the world is over, lies down to rest 
in peace, these seared Ijanners are all this to us. 



Maurer, Mrs. Jacob H. Beattes (wife of Captain Beattes), and Mrs. Charles 
Hogan. When the organization left Philadelphia it was unprovided with 
colors, and the reason assigned for this slight was, that the regiment had 
been raised independent of the State, Colonel Gosline having applied direct 
to, and received his authority from the War Department to raise the regi- 
ment. This action of Colonel Gosline created some little feeling on the 
part of the State authorities, and this is also the reason whj- we lost our 
real number in the State line of Pennsylvania troops. Having been assigned 
a number, 45, in the beginning of our recruiting operations, then being 
changed to the 54th, and finally to the 95th regiment. It became a matter 
of some jest for a while whether we should ever obtain a number we could 
call our own. Before these colors were given to us we used to borrow the 
flags of the 3d U. S. Infantry to parade with, and sometimes paraded with 
out colors. Some time after we had received our colors we were presented 
with a stand by the State, Governor Curtin being present at the ceremonies. 



CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN 

SEDGWICK AND SALEM HEIGHTS. 



CHANCELLORSYILLE CAMPAIGN. 



As the Cliancellorsville campaign was the most important 
one in which the Sixth Corps participated, and as the name 
of Gen. Sedgwick has been associated with Hooker's faihire in 
that campaign as the primary cause, it was thought best by 
some of our comrades to have a narrative of that brief cam- 
paign published in connection witli the foregoing address. 
The story has been drawn from various sources of official 
information. 

General Hooker organized a campaign, to start about the 
13th of April, but heavy rains and other causes compelled 
him to wait for more favorable weather, which the dawn of 
spring did not promise. Meanwhile, an unusually rainy sea- 
son held his army in bondage, and licked out the hillsides, 
filling the already abominable roads up, and floated their cor- 
duroys away like miniature lumber rafts, to the streams in the 
vicinity which feed the Rappahannock River. 

At length, on the 27th of April, circulars of instruction 
were sent to the different corps commanders ; and on the 
same day. Gen. Hooker, in an address to the troops of his com- 
mand, which was read at the dress parades held at retreat, told 
them what he expected them to do, and the chance he would 
give them to do it* Hooker now had well in hand a mag- 
nificent body of men, of all grades, and engines of war, which 



* Hooker's plan, which was only made known to those high in office, was 
to move the major portion of his army, unobserved, to a point some twenty 
miles to the right above Lee's position, cross the river with his whole force, 
strike the enemy in the flank and rear, and force him to battle outside of his 
strono- works, if he would save his communication with Richmond. In such 
an event Hooker felt sure of victory. 



48 

he was pleased to term the Finest army on the Planet. 
His order to his Cavalry Chief contained the following char- 
acteristic paragraph : If you cannot cut oif from his column 
(meaning the enemy) large slices, the General desires that you 
will not fail to take small ones. Let your watchword he 
HgJit^ and let all your orders ha^ fight ! fight! fight ! bearing in 
mind that time is as valuable to the General as the rebel 
carcasses. 

We were to carry eight days' rations, and one hundred 
rounds of ammunition. Some of us in the Ninety-fifth Penn- 
sylvania were curious to know just what this amount of 
freight, of which we were to be the human trucks, would weigh. 
So we equipped ourselves, and stepping upon the scales at the 
Quartermaster's headquarters, found that we weighed just 
eighty-eight pounds more equipped than we did unequipped. 
We threw away our clothing and converted our knapsacks into 
portable pantries, filling them with pork and crackers, and we 
renounced the use of our haversacks in favor of cartridge 
boxes. Thus were we freighted down with war's parapher- 
nalia, until many groaned with pain at the very idea of such an 
incumbrance, and some of the men cursed the "fool" whose 
brain had given birth to such an idea. It was on this account 
that the rebels, after the battle of Chancellorsville, called 
Gen. Hooker the " Confederate Commissary." According to 
official statement, the Army of the Potomac now numbered 
119,661 men. The Burnside system of " Grand Divisions" was 
broken up, and the army re-organized into seven corps. Gen. 
John F. Reynolds commanded the First; Gen. Darius '^. 
Couch the Second ; Gen. Danl. E. Sickles the Third ; Gen. 
Geo. G. Meade the Fifth ; Gen. John Sedgwick the Sixth ; 
Gen. Oliver O. Howard the Eleventh ; Gen. Henry W. Slo- 
cum commanded the Twelfth. Just here, I wish to say 
something of the corps badge and its origin, also that collec- 
tion of pretty banners, each bearing a mysterious device, and 
known as head-quarter flags. These were the classics of the 
battle-field and the weird of war. This system of corps badges 
or " tell-tales" was adopted by Gen. Hooker for the army 
soon after his taking command. The First Corps was desig- 



49 

uated by a Sphere. The Second by a Trefoil, or what the men 
called the " Ace of Clubs." The Third was designated by a 
Lozenge or Rhomb, and was called the " Ace of Diamonds," 
its different divisions being called the lied Diamonds, the 
White Diamonds, and the Blue Diamonds. 

The Fifth Corps was a Maltese Cross, and the Sixth Corps 
badge was the Greek or St. Andrew's Cross, and was worn by 
some after that fashion. Many of the Roman Catholics, how- 
ever (notably those in Thirty-first E"ew York) had a regular 
Christian symbol, shaped of the goods furnished for the pur- 
pose, and might easily have been mistaken for Knights Tem- 
plars. The Sixth Corps badge was the most abused of any in 
the army, and is to-day. It should be worn as St. Andrew's 
Cross is represented, and a fac-simile of General Hooker's 
original drawing, now in possession of the writer, shows the 
mark in that fashion. The Eleventh Corps badge was a Cres- 
cent or half-moon ; and after the battle of Chancellorsville and 
stampede of Howard's men the Eleventh Corps was facetiously 
called the " flying half-moon." The Twelfth Corps' mark was 
a Five-pointed star. This scheme for marking the army grew 
out of an idea which originated with Gen. Kearney. Whilst 
on the Peninsula, after the battle of Fair Oaks, the officers and 
men drew their clothing alike from the quarter-master, and 
much difficulty was experienced in distinguishing an officer 
from a private soldier. Kearney then prescribed a red patch, 
which he ordered must be worn on the cap crowns of the field 
and staff officers in his command, and that all officers of the line 
wear the same in front of their caps. This was known as the 
" Kearney patch." There was no mark worn by the private sol- 
dier at this time. The main object with Gen. Hooker in thus 
decorating his army, was to prevent straggling or straying off" 
in the different commands, and to put upon each individual sol- 
dier a "tell-tale," or, as it would be termed now in the parlance 
of the street, a " give-away." This system worked to a charm, 
and Gen. Hooker was exceedingly proud of it. Almost the last 
letter written before his death, and the very last relative to his 
connection with the Army of the Potomac, was to the writer, 
and in that letter he particularly speaks of this system of corps 



50 

badges, remarking that it was instrumental in accomplishing 
wonders for the army. The color for the First division's 
was a bright crimson. The Second division's was white. The 
Third division's was bhie, and the Fourth division's (Sixth 
Corps only) green; this latter division we never see repre- 
sented in any of our " Army of the Republic" processions. 
Each corps, division, and brigade was designated by a flag 
bearing its symbol. These were oblong and triangular in 
shape (the latter shape for brigades) and made so as to be 
numerically distinguishable by the placement of certain strips 
which were in all cases the color worn by a division. 

Our cavalry was well horsed and equipped, and 400 guns 
constituted the artillery force of our army. In Hooker's 
army at this time were about 40,000 two years' troops 
and nine months' men, whose term of service would expire 
upon the eve of the campaign. The Sixth Corps numbered 
22,000 men, among whom were three nine months' regiments 
New Jersey troops, and seven battalions ISTew York State 
troops, two years' men. The Sixth Corps was composed of 
four divisions, the First under Brig.-Gen. Wm. T. H. Brooks, 
the Second under Brig.-Gen. Albion Paris Howe, and the 
Third was commanded by Brig.-Gen. John ISTewton (now of 
Hell Gate fame). Attached to the Sixth Corps was what was 
known as a "Light" or " Fljdng Division," originallj^ com- 
manded by Col. Calvin E. Pratt (Thirty-first i^ew York). 
Col. Pratt was succeeded in the beginning of the campaign 
by Col. Hiram Burnham (Sixth Maine Volunteers). 

The left wing of Hooker's army was under Maj.-Gen. John 
Sedgwick, and consisted of the First and Third Corps (Gens. 
Reynolds and Sickels) and Sedgwick's own Corps, now tem- 
porarily under Gen. JS'ewton. The First and Third Corps 
aggregated about 35,000 men, and increased Sedgwick's com- 
mand to 57,000. However, on the morning of the 20th of 
April Sickels with his Corps was ordered to join Hooker at 
Chancellorsville, and on the morning of May 2d Gen. Rey- 
nolds's Corps was taken from Sedgwick, also joining Hooker 
on the right. 

Lee's army had wintered in the neighborhood of Fred- 



51 

ericksburg, the fords of the Rappahannock and its tributaries, 
and now numbered about 69,000 men with 170 pieces of ar- 
tillery. Its equipollence was the same as Hooker's. 

hooker's nine days' campaign. 

Opening of the campaign of 1863. Battles of Chancellors- 
ville, Franklin Crossing, Bernard's Farm, Bowling Green 
Road, Deep Run, Marye's Heights, Fredericksburg, Salem 
Heights, and Bank's Ford. 

At 6 P. M. on the 27th of April we of the Sixth Corps re- 
ceived orders to march on the following morning. Reveille 
was beaten at 5 A. M. on the 28th, but owing to a rain-storm 
which set in at early hour, the order to strike tents was not 
given until 8 o'clock in the afternoon, when we formed in 
line, bidding farewell to our camping ground, and taking up 
the line of march, shaping our course in the direction of 
Franklin's Crossing on the Rappahannock, thus commencing 
the campaign of 1863 (the whole army now in motion). 
On the 28th Gen. Hooker with 10,000 cavalry and three 
corps of infantry, Meade's, Howard's, and Slocum's, crossed 
the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford, seven miles above Fred- 
ericksburg, while the First, Third, and Sixth Corps under 
Sedgwick, remained upon the north bank of the Rappa- 
hannock watching the enemy, and by a show of force led 
the Confederates to suppose that the whole of our army was 
still in its original position. In this way Hooker was enabled 
to inagurate his offensive movement without molestation 
from Lee. The First Corps was to cross at Pollock's Mill 
Creek, and the Third Corps was expected to act as a support 
to the First, and the Sixth Corps was to make active demon- 
strations upon the enemy in front, across the river, upon 
Marye's Heights. After a tedious march through mud and 
rain, the Sixth Corps halted in line of battle upon the crest ot 
a hill skirting the north bank of the Rappahannock, where 
we prepared to spend the night, partaking of an improvised 
supper — the usual camp or bivouac fires not being allowed. 
About 10 o'clock in the nio;ht we were aroused and informed 



52 

that the first division (Sixth Corps) was to cross the river. 
The third brigade (Russell's) was to be the van, and to the 
regiments One hundred and nineteenth and ISTinety-fifth Penn- 
sylvania of Russell's brigade was assigned the hazardous and 
important duty of surprising the enemy's pickets, now in 
force upon the opposite side, and taking possession of the 
telegraph roads in the vicinity of Fredericksburg. 

At 1 o'clock in the night Russell assembled his colonels 
and told them the parts he wished them to take in the silent 
drama. Forty pontoons were to be mysteriously launched 
upon the dark waters of the Rappahannock, and sixty men 
allotted to each boat. The play was "■ Surprise," and the 
curtain was to be rung up at midnight, so our officers in- 
formed us. As this was the case, we of Russell's brigade 
who had been cast for the more important parts began to 
rehearse at once, and in the calm, misty hours, whilst our 
comrades lay unconscious in dreams in rear of their stacks — 
a silent audience — we went through our scenes in perfect 
harmony, and were soon dead-letter perfect. "We "fixed" 
and " unfixed" bayonets so deftly that we could scarce hear 
ourselves at the work, and we deployed as skirmishers and 
charged an imaginary foe in his unseen rifle-pits. Four 
men of the Fifteenth ISlew York Engineers were assigned 
to each boat as oarsmen. The boats were to go and return 
until the whole of Russell's brigade had reached the opposite 
shore, when a bridge was to be laid down. This movement 
was to have been made at midnight, but Gen. Russell — whose 
precaution was paramount to the possibility of a failure in the 
execution of his orders should his judgment dictate it^ — de- 
clared that he was not going to make a " Balls Bluft"" affair 
of his operations, and delayed the order for his brigade to 
move until the first peep of day. Before describing the 
movement which followed, let me call attention to a descrip- 
tion of the country on the left of Fredericksburg From the 
top of the hills on which our Hues were formed, overlook- 
ing the river the land sloped abruptly, and in some places 
narrow ravines gullied the hill sides obliquely to their base 
in a much vexed declivity. Through some of these roads 



53 

were constructed, thereby enabling our artillery and pontoon 
trains to reach the comparatively level ground immediately 
adjacent to the river bank, which is very steep, and in some 
places presents a bluiiy appearance, being fringed with light 
timber. The southern bank of the stream, where we were 
to make the crossing, was the same locality on the river as 
in Burnside's campaign in December, 1862, and was known 
as "Franklin's Crossing." This presented the same abrupt 
water-front, rising from fifteen to twenty feet above the river. 
A few rods back from the river bank rises another range of 
blufi's from forty to fifty feet in height, and then the open 
and slightly rolling land of the Bernard Farm is presented to 
view. All this land is that which was manoeuvred over by 
Franklin's " Left Gi-and Division" in the first battle of Fred- 
ericksburg, a little more than three months previous. 

Upon receipt of the order detailing the ISTinety-fifth Penn- 
sylvania for the advance. Colonel Town notified his company 
commanders, and preparations were at once commenced for 
its execution. The writer's company, commanded by Captain 
George Weest, was detailed to act in conjunction with other 
details as skirmishers after the crossing had been secured. 
About 11 P. M. the Ninety-fifth and One hundred and nine- 
teenth Pennsylvania (Col. Peter C. Ellmaker), were put in 
motion ; feeling our way in silence down the rugged hillsides 
in the gloom of a drizzling rainy night, we reached their base 
and joined the pontoniers, who were busy unloading the un- 
wieldy boats from their trucks. 

To each one of these pontoons a company of soldiers were 
assigned and assisted in getting them to the river. 

This was a slow and fatiguing process and consumed much 
valuable time ; finally the scows were shoved down the steep 
bank and launched ; the pontoniers taking their places at 
the oars, the troops soon after embarking filling the boats to 
their utmost capacity. 

The near approach of dawn necessitated a prompt move- 
ment on our part ; everything being in readiness, the order 
to " shove oif" was given by Gen. Russell, who accompanied 
the movement. 
5 



54 

As the boats moved out upon the dark waters and felt 
the effect of the current they drifted together, causing much 
difficulty to the men at the oars. Our whole attention, 
however, was now directed to the opposite shore. What 
reception would Ave get ? Were the enemy apprised of the 
movement and waiting to give us a murderous volley while 
in this crowded and almost helpless condition ? for it seemed 
to us almost impossible that the noise unavoidably made in 
launching forty large pontoons, and the little tumult created 
in filling them with troops, would pass unnoticed by the 
watchful pickets of the foe. As we neared the opposite bank 
of the river, which is of no great width at this point, our 
eyes were strained to catch the first dim outlines of the shore. 
Soon the shadowy forms of the trees along the river bank 
loomed up in the misty dawn, and whilst we seemingly held 
our breath in zealous vigilance, there was a crack of a rifle, 
followed by the ringing voice of a Confederate picket, as he 
called, " Corporal of the guard, double quick !" With re- 
newed energy our oarsmen bent low to their work, and in a 
few moments our bows struck the hostile shore almost simul- 
taneously; now came a fierce scramble up the steep and slip- 
pery banks, made doubly so by the rain, which was still 
falling. Many of the pien missed their footing and went 
overboard, where they were compelled to assist each other out 
as best they could. Their more fortunate comrades who had 
gained a solid footing had enough to attend to in returning 
the enemy's fire, which was instantly opened upon us from a 
line of well-constructed rifle-pits on the high bluff back from 
the river. Owing to the darkness of the morning their fire 
was not effective, and ours was not much better, as we had 
but the flash of their pieces to guide us in our aim. While 
thus engaged we were startled by a thundering volley fired 
over our heads by the balance of our brigade across the river, 
which was drawn up in line of battle and waiting to cross to 
our assistance. The music of this leaden hurricane, startling 
as it was to us, had a most practical eflect upon the rebels in 
the rifle-pits, who ceased firing, thereby giving us an oppor- 



55 ' 

tiinity to form line. Our skirmishers were at once deployed 
and advanced upon the rifle-pits followed closely by the two 
van regiments, the Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania on the right 
and One hundred and nineteenth Pennsylvania on the left. 
Upon gaining the top of the bluff the rifle-pits were found 
deserted, the Confederates flying upon our approach, so we 
kept up the advance for awhile unmolested. The enemy now 
concealed by the fog and darkness of the early morning halted 
in their retreat, and, crouching low, they allowed us to ap- 
proach quite close and then gave us a volley, but kind fortune 
again favored us and no one was hurt. Without returning a 
shot we went at them with a cheer and again they fell back, 
and did not attempt further resistance until safely concealed 
within the shadows of Deep Run Ravine, our old retreat of 
December previous. We then advanced to within easy rifle 
range of the ravine just named, where we were ordered to lay 
down and watch the foe closely, but not to fire unless they 
attempted an advance ; our loss so far being trifling in num- 
bers. In these operations Col. Irwin of the Forty-ninth Penn- 
sylvania, who was on the opposite side of the river, was 
wounded, and one captain and 25 men, principally belonging 
to the Eighteenth New York and Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania. 
We succeeded in taking a few prisoners during the advance, 
among whom was the lieutenant-colonel of a Georgia regiment 
who was in charge of the pickets along the river. He was 
comfortably quartered in a house a short distance from the 
line when we surprised his men ; came running into our ranks, 
and was made a prisoner at once. As daylight increased and 
the fog lifted the Confederates opened fire upon us ; we dare 
not reply, strict orders forbid it at this time. At 10 o'clock 
in the day the rain stopped and the sun shone out in all his 
glory, the rebels ceased popping at us and at once showed a 
disposition to be on good terms, trying to drive a bargain in 
papers, tobacco, and coffee.* 

* It had been a favorite pastime with many of us, and one which broke 
the dulness of picket routine, to converse socially with the Confederate 
pickets and trade whatever of our soldier merchandise we might have handy 



56 

We felt a little willing, for we were always anxious to get a 
squint at the "Johnnies' " newspapers, but it was no go. Gen. 
Russell shut down upon our port, and " sat upon" onr com- 
merce right lively. Immediately after our crossing three pon- 
toon bridges were laid, the balance of the men of the First 
division were hurried across the river, and were placed in 
battle order o'er the plain.* 

The 30th of April and the 1st of May were spent in severe 
skirmishing and manoeuvring for position, and much specula- 
tion was indulged in, for we were no little exercised as to the 

for newspapers and tobacco, and for this purpose the " Yankee'' and his 
jack-knife were often seen whittling away and putting into shape the hull 
or rigging of some miniature "blockader;" these tiny craft we often 
freighted with copies of the " Herald" or " Inquirer," some good old Gov- 
ernment Java mixed with brown sugar, and we were not unmindful of the 
mail. We would (when the wind favored us) start the little craft on her 
mission, and receive in return a Richmond paper or two, and a cargo of the 
" weed." The writer has in his possession a copy of the " Richmond Dis- 
patch" sent to him on one of these tiny vessels. It is dated January 21st, 
1863, and was received soon after Burnside's "Mud March." It contains 
the following copy of a letter received by the Confederates on one of these 
amusing occasions. 

January 17th, 1863. 
" Gents on Confederate State Duty : — 

'•We had the pleasure to receive your letter, and very glad to find you in 
good spirits. We are sorry not to have any newspapers on hand, but will 
get some as soon as possible. We send you coffee whenever the wind per- 
mits us to do so. Can't one of you come over this evening in the little boat 
you have there ? We will not keep you. In the hope that Jeff. Davis and 
Abe Lincoln will give us peace, we send our best respects. 

"Co. A. 46th Reg. N. Y. S. V." 

* Fifteen bridges were laid at different points for the use of the army 
during this campaign. The campaign opened with the construction of a 
canvas raft at Port Conway, about fourteen miles below Fredericksburg, on 
the 20th of April. A canvas bridge was built at Kelly's Ford on the 28th 
of April, and the following day three pontoon bridges were laid at Franklin's 
Crossing, and three at the mouth of Pollock's Creek. Two were laid at 
United States Ford on the 30th, and another on the 4th of May. On the 
3d of May, two bridges were thrown across the river in front of Fredericks- 
burg, and one at Banks' Ford, and another at United States Ford. 



57 

results of Hooker's generalsliip on the riglit. On the 30th, at 
dusk, the following order was issued to us: — 

Head-quarters Army of the Potomac, 
Camp near Falmouth, Virginia, April 30th, 1863. 

It is with heartfelt satisfaction that the commandino- Gen- 
eral announces to the army that the operations of the last 
three days have determined that our enemy must either in- 
gloriously fly or come out from behind his defences and give us 
battle on our own ground, where certain destruction awaits 
him. The operations of the Fifth, Eleventh, and Twelfth 
Corps have been a succession of splendid achievements. 
By command of Major-General Hooker, 

S. Williams, Assistant Adjutant-General. 

We listened to the readino- of this order with a confidino; 
attention, and so soon as the adjutant's voice died out, we 
broke into deafening cheers, threw up our caps, and smiled 
double smiles at each other. We now fully believed " Fighting 
Joe" (Hooker's military soubriquet) would demolish Lee 
and end the war in a few months. Our bands mounted the 
ramparts, and played " Dixie," " We are marching down to 
Dixie's Land," " Ain't I glad I got out of the Wilderness," and 
man^'^ other favorite and national airs. On the morning of the 
second we were aroused at daybreak, and remained in line 
the greater part of the day, expecting an engagement momen- 
tarily. About seven o'clock, the enemy opened upon us with 
artillery, but in our safe position on the flats between the 
bluff and river bank, it was a difficult matter for him to dis- 
turb us ; his shells passing harmlessly over us would strike the 
opposite river bank with a solid thud, and in some instances 
descended almost vertically into the river, sending up a col- 
umn of water, the diameter of the shot, to a height of twenty 
or thirty feet. While the firing was at its height, it was sin- 
gular to note the actions of the men : our muskets were stacked 
in line, and the troops either standing about in close proximity, 
or laying down in groups, ready to spring to arms at a moment's 



58 

notice ; no particular attention was paid to the shells as they 
flew over us ; greenbacks were uncommonly plenty among the 
boys, owing to the fact that the paymaster had visited our 
corps previous to commencing the campaign, and many of the 
men had no opportunity of sending their money home, know- 
ing that they were on the eve of an engagement, and uncer- 
tain as to what their lot might be, no doubt felt a little 
reckless as to what they did with their money. However, all 
sorts of games of chance were at once started, from three-card 
monte to balancing a penny on a peg, and taking your chance 
of knocking it off at so many paces. Here would be a group 
seated around a gum blanket spread upon the ground, with 
their stakes piled in front of them, while they anxiously 
watched the dealer as he shuffled the cards ; suddenly the 
whiz and shriek of a shell would be heard approaching, as it 
would draw uncomfortably near ; now their hands stretched 
out instinctively towards their money, while their eyes were 
turned aloft, like ducks looking for a squall. As the unwel- 
come intruder passed beyond their immediate vicinity, their 
hands would be withdrawn, and the game go on serenely. 
Just before sundown we were called to arms, and advanced 
upon the plain in support of the skirmishers of the Light 
Division, which made a gallant charge, driving the enemy 
steadily before them, until they finally took refuge in their 
intrenchments on the heights, leaving us in peaceful posses- 
sion of the plain. 

It was a most brilliant affair, the day was just declining, 
the red streaks of sunlight stole o'er the battle scape, and stab- 
bed the little puffs of white smoke as they belched from the 
rifles ; and to see the " Johnnies" scamper through this did 
our hearts good at this time, for we knew notof the Confederates' 
keen cut to our army on the right. The Second and Third 
divisions of the Sixth Corps commenced crossing so soon as we 
of the First division advanced, and after a temporary disposi- 
tion of our forces had been made, the entire corps bivouacked on 
the plains near Fredericksburg. It was a most beautiful night ; 
the full moon shone in all her splendor, lighting up the martial 
scene with almost noonday refulgence, while the balmy breeze 



59 

wafted to our ears the sound of the deadly conflict raging 
with unabated fury at Chancellorsville. About midnight 
we were aroused by an alarm of musketry on the left of our 
line ; after remaining under arms for a short time, the firing 
gradually ceased, it simply being an affair of the pickets. "We 
again laid down, securing a little more sleep, but were under 
arms, and ready for an advance long before daylight. About 
4 A. M. of the 3d (May) the Sixth Corps commenced opera- 
tions in earnest, by extending its lines, the Second and Third 
divisions taking ground to the right toward Fredericksburg. 
So soon as this movement began, the enemy's picket opened 
a general fusilade ; the flash from their pieces in the dim 
morning light resembling so many fire-flies, while, from the 
heights the great guns illuminated the inky back-ground of 
the picture as they discharged their bolts in the supposed di- 
rections of the advancing column. About six o'clock, Rus- 
sell's brigade moved a little to the left and front, in support 
of Battery D (Second U. S. A.), until the balance of the First 
division could move out to co-operate with the storming col- 
umn which was now preparing to assault Marye's Height, a 
series of fortified hills, rendered well nigh impregnable by na- 
ture. At a consultation of Generals (Sixth Corps) very early 
on Sunday morning, it was agreed that the Second bri- 
gade of Kewton's division, now commanded by Colonel 
Thomas D. Johns (Seventh Massachusetts), should carry 
the works on the extreme right. But the plan was soon 
afterwards changed, and the honor given to the Light Divi- 
sion. The Seventh Massachusetts and Thirty-sixth !N"ew 
York, of Johns' brigade, were added to the Light Division, 
and Colonel Johns was selected as one of the leaders of the 
storming column. These hills were occupied by Gen. Early, 
with seven brigades of infantry and thirty pieces of artillery, 
chiefly belonging to the Washington Artillery of New Orleans ; 
one brigade, Wilcox's (Alabama troops) was toward the river 
— Banks' Ford. Early's force numbered about nine thou- 
sand men, and included Barksdale's brigade (Mississippians), 
of McLaws' Division. 

Marye's Heights was part of an extensive estate, just in the 



60 

rear of Fredericksburg, and belonged to Mr. John L. Marye. 
It was known as "Brompton." Mr. Marye's elegant mansion 
was situated most pleasantly upon the heights, and had suf- 
fered much damage, swept by the storm of war. Fifty can- 
non balls were sent through the parlor alone, and its lovely 
solitude was otherwise scathed. These heights were those 
smote by Burnside in December, 1862. The disaster to 
Hooker's army at Chancellorsville — the flanking and flying of 
the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps — and the Confederate disaster, 
the death wounding of " Stonewall" Jackson, were all unknown 
to Gen. Sedgwick, and his orders at this time were so complex 
that he was puzzled to understand the real intentions of his 
chief. "'^ In the mean time, while the preparations were being 
made to assault the heights, the Confederate batteries opened 
upon our ammunition and ambulance train, which was now 
coming toward us from the river, and for awhile the scene 
was most exciting. These vehicles and their frightened ani- 
mals were dashing o'er the plain in all directions, seeking 
shelter beliind every hillock or knoll within their reach. 
Our guns remained silent all this time with the cannoniers 
lying beside them, and the drivers stood quietly at their 
horses' heads, while the shot grooved and furrowed the 
ground, in all directions, or passed harmlessly between or 

* At 11 o'clock in the night of the 2d of May, Gen. Sedgwick received an 
order from Gen. Hooker (who evidently knew little of the former's position) 
directing him to take up his bridges, relay them at Fredericksburg, seize 
the town, and march at once over the Chancellorsville road (Gordonsville 
Plank Road), until he connected with the troops on the right. The order 
said Sedgwick must attack and destroy any force he might fall in with on 
the road, and be in the vicinity of Hooker at daylight (3d), when the two 
were to use up the Confederate army. Hooker had now calculated the de- 
struction of a foe twice our number, and after his own failure to make the 
enemy " ingloriously fly," how swiftly he would set a march over a road, 
already strewn with reinforcements (from the enemy in his front), to Early 
now in strong force, on Marye's Heights. The execution of this order 
was impossible, considering the obstacles in our way, and Gen. Sedgwick 
stated before the Committee on the Conduct of the War (p. 99), that the 
movement was impossible at the time he received the order to advance, had 
there not been a rebel soldier in his front. The attack, when it was made, as 
we have shown, was not battling with shadows. 



61 

over the guns, bounding away across the plain; finally, 
seeing that their practice was at fault, the enemy ceased 
firing.* It was now drawing near noon. The Sixth Corps 
was in the following order : First division on the left ; next 
on the right, in front of Marye's Heights, was the Second 
division, formed in three columns of attack. The Light 
Division, Colonel Burnham, was immediately in front of 
the stone wall on the left of the road leading up and through 
Marye's Heights, while in close supporting distance, with its 
assaulting column thrown forward, was the Third division, 
the whole representing a line of battle about five miles 
in length. One brigade of Gibbon's division of the Second 
Corps was in the town (Fredericksburg) and the other two 
brigades were across the river.f All being in readiness, the 
batteries of Adams, Butler, Harn, Harris, Hazard, Hexamer, 
and McCartney pounded away at the glacis before the infan- 
try moved to the attack. During this cannonade, the Con- 
federates again proved their practice in gunnery to be most in- 
ferior to ours, but their sharp-shooters were most annoying, and 

* About 10 A.M. the Ninety-fifth and the One hundred and nineteenth 
Pennsylvania were ordered to advance across the plain and take position in 
Deep Run ravine (leaving behind the Eighteenth and Thirty-second New 
York, whose terms of service would soon expire) ; this movement was the sig- 
nal for a fresh demonstration from the rebel batteries; as we advanced by 
the flank in four ranks, we received their fire obliquely across the line, but 
suffered very little from it. Upon reaching the shelter of the ravine, we 
formed line along the crest of its slope, where we were comparatively safe. 
Immediately following came our batteries, and here was another exciting 
scene. Battery " D," Second Regulars, was in the van ; as they approached 
the ravine they became the target for the enemy's gunners, who concentrated 
their fire on the point of the road where it swept down into the ravine, and 
over which our pet battery had to pass ; but the brave fellows never fal- 
tered, keeping on at a walk, as though on review, while the shot and shell 
flew over and around their heads. We cheered them lustily as they trotted 
down the ravine to take their designated place in line, with the balance of 
the First division, which quickly followed us. 

t When Gen. Hooker commenced his campaign, Gibbons's division was 
encamped in a conspicuous place, in full view of the enemy ; so it was deemed 
advisable not to move the men until after the campaign had begun. On the 
night of the 2d, Gibbons was ordered to report to Gen. Sedgwick with his 
command. 



62 

worried our gunners, near the Bernard House, considerably. 
Early in the day Gen. Brooks sent forward Bartlett's brigade 
to dislodge these sharp-shooters, and occupy the ground held 
by them. After a brief struggle on the Bowling Green Road 
the enemy was driven off, but the new position was soon 
enfiladed by the Confederate artillery, when Bartlett was 
ordered to withdraw. 

In this little affair the Fifth Maine had twenty-one men 
killed and wounded, including its Adjutant, Geo. A. Bicknell, 
Captain E. M. Robinson, and Lieut. O. V. Stevens. Five men 
were killed and eighteen wounded in the Kinety-sixth Pennsyl- 
vania. A furious onslaught was now made upon the heights, 
and as we of the First division advanced a short distance 
beyond Deep Run, we could see the Confederates in great 
confusion falling back before the blue tide rolling up the 
steep places in our front. It was the men of our Second and 
Light Divisions in the mid-day sun, their gunbarrels glisten- 
ing, and the colors of our country borne aloft in the hands of 
the brave sons of Maine, l^ew York, Pennsylvania, Wiscon- 
sin, Massachusetts, Vermont, and I^ew Jersey. These were 
plainly visible. This splendid body of men scaled Marye's 
Heights and took them. Ten thousand undaunted sons of 
the Union had drenched these heights with their blood in 
December previous. That failure was Burnside's Forlorn 
Hope. On the 3d of May, 1863, these barriers yielded to fiive 
thousand men under Sedgwick's command.* 

* The honor of planting first the Union colors upon the works on Marye's 
Heights is claimed by so many regiments that it is difficult to understand 
which one of these claimants is entitled to the undivided glory. The credit 
was generally accorded to the Sixth Maine at the date of the battle, but it soon 
after became a source of much argument, and other regiments asserting their 
rights to the honor, have, in an official way, given some importance to the 
question. The official report of the Sixth Maine in this action says; "The 
supporting regiments on the right and left broke under the terrific fire, and 
the enemy turned their attention to the Sixth Maine and Fifth Wisconsin. 
The whole of the enemy's fire swept through the devoted ranks of the two 
regiments, but with wild cheers the men rushed on the fortifications and the 
victory was won in four minutes from the commencement of the attack. The 
flag of the Sixth Maine was the first to wave from the battlements of the 



63 

At mid-day Brooks's Division was withdrawn from the 
left leaving Gen. Russell with two regiments of his brigade, 
the Eighteenth and Thirty-second, to cover the rear. Taking 



enemy's works." An eye witness, Surgeon Stevens (Seventy-seventh New 
York), says in his work, "Three Years in the Sixth Corps" (page 199), 
" We of the Second Division looked with admiration upon the advancing 
line ; our flag — it was the flag of the Sixth Maine — in advance of the others 
its brave color guard bounding forward, then halting a moment while the 
men came up, then dashing forward again and finally gaining the heights 
before us all. It was a noble spectacle, and filled our hearts with pride for 
our brave comrades of the Light Division. The Light Division secured 
as trophies about seven hundred prisoners and five cannon." The ofiicial 
report of the Thirty-first New York (" Light Division") says : "The action 
was short but decisive, and the State colors of the regiment were the first in 
the enemy's works, riddled in its passage thither by a whole charge of grape- 
shot." The official report of the Thirty-sixth New York Volunteers says : 
" The signal being given, the Seventh Massachusetts and Thirty-sixth New 
York moved forward simultaneously with the Flying Division up the Gordons- 
ville Road and deployed along the stone wall, charged the batteries to the 
right, capturing two guns, the Thirty-sixth New York reaching them first." 
"Special Orders No. 839 (1863) War Department, referring to Captain I. 
Townsend Daniel (Company D, a brave oSicer of this regiment), says : — 

"And led the right company of the Thirty-sixth New York Infantry 
(which regiment was the first to plant its colors on the heights) at the 
storming of Marye's Heights, Fredericksburg. Among Howe's regiment the 
same contra-opinion prevailed. Colonel afterwards Brevet Maj.-Gen. Louis 
A. Grant, who commanded the Second brigade (' Vermonters'), has claimed 
the honor of first reaching the heights for the Thirty-third New York, and says 
the Sixth Vermont was the second regiment to gain the heights." Surgeon 
Geo. L. Stevens says (page 97): " Three Years in the Sixth Corps" (foot-note) 
that "Gen. L. A. Grant in his report does unintentional injustice to a brave 

regiment The Thirty-third was not the first to gain the 

heights on that part of the line. The testimony of Gen. Neill, as well as of 
the members of the regiment and the many trophies it captured, fully estab- 
lish the claim of the Seventy-seventh New York to the honor." 

" The Seventy-seventh New York captured a stand of colors belonging to 
the Eighteenth Mississippi, two heavy guns, a large number of prisoners, 
among whom was Col. Luce of the Eighteenth Mississippi, besides great 
numbers of small arms." 

"As the regiment reached the heights, says the same 'authority,' and took 
possession of the guns, Gen. Howe rode up, and taking off his hat, exclaimed, 
' Noble Seventy-seventh, you have covered yourselves with glory.' The Gen- 
eral's words were greeted with tumultuous cheers." 



64 

tlie Bowling Green Road to Fredericksburg, we entered the 
soutlieastern x)ortion of the, town, thence filing left, passed 
out on the Gordonsville Plank Road, halting a few moments. 
Here, in the middle of the road, was standing some pieces of 
the celebrated Washington Artillery which were captured on 
the heights. We now had a good opportunity to a full view 
of this celebrated and much-talked-of terror ; a more miserable 
set of animals were never seen than those attached to these 
guns and caissons, and the dilapidated harness would have 
shamed the artillery branch of "Walker's iillibusters." Mary e's 
Heights were not won without heavy loss to us. Col. Spear 
of the gallant Sixty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, than whom 
none were braver, had fallen pierced to death at the head of 
the assaulting column. Col. Johns of the Seventh Massa- 
chusetts had fallen in a moment of importance to our success, 
and the Thirty-first IS'ew York's heroes strewed the slopes, and 
mangled corpses and animals' carcasses dotted the streets of 
Fredericksburg, which now seemed one vast litter for the 
groaning and expiring, and its sidewalks "were disordered with 
bloody garments stripped from gory bodies and thrown aside 
in the great haste to help some sufierer. Hooker's army was 
now in such a position that the Confederate commander 
was free to clip either wing of his antagonist and leave him a 
crippled thing among the marshes of the Rappahannock. But 
the advantage w^as lost in Confederate grief for the dying 
Jackson and ignorance of the real state of afifairs within the 
Union lines. The way was now open from Fredericks- 
burg to the heights for Sedgwick to carry out the instructions 
received the night of the 2d to join Hooker. The First 
division was given the advance, and we all supposed the 
enemy to be in full retreat towards Chancellorsville. After a 
short march in column along the Gordonsville Plank Road, 
we (Brooks's First division) were formed in the following 
order: — 

The First brigade (New Jersey), under Col. Brown (with 
the exception of four companies of the Second Regiment and 
Fifteenth Regiment), were on the left of the plank road in 
double line of battle. With six companies of the Second 



65 

Regiment deployed as skirmishers on the right and left of 
the road (these skirmishers were under Lieut.-Col. Wiebecke 
of the Second New Jersey). The Second brigade, Col. Bart- 
lett's, was in supporting distance on the left of the road. The 
l!^inety-fifth Pennsylvania, now temporarily under Lieut.-Col. 
Hall, and the Hundred and nineteenth Pennsylvania, Col. 
Peter C. Ellmaker, of Russell's brigade, were under Col. 
Town of the former regiment, and moved in a single line of 
battle on the right of the plank road; the artillery was under 
Col. Tompkins, and consisted of the batteries of Rigby, Par- 
sons, and Willston. 

The New Jersey brigade was composed of the First, Second, 
Third, Fourth, and Fifteenth Regiments (the latter regiment 
and four companies of the Second Regiment were absent from 
the brigade at this time, and were not in the fight). 

Bartlett's brigade consisted of the Sixteenth, the Twenty- 
seventh, and the Hundred and twenty-first JSTew York, Fifth 
Maine, and Ninety-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers. 

Two regiments of the Third brigade, the Ninety-fifth and 
Hundred and nineteenth Penns3ivania, were the only troops 
of this brigade with the division at this time; the Eighteenth 
and Thirty-second New York having remained below Fred- 
ericksburg with Gen. Russell. These ten regiments of the 
First division (Sixth Corps) now numbered less than 4000 
muskets ; they had lost considerably since crossing the river, 
and large details for special services had also thiimed their 
ranks. 

The Second and Light Divisions, which had stormed the 
heights, formed our reserve lines of battle beyond our batteries, 
and the Third division was on the right, and in reserve. This 
handful of men (the First division) scarcely one-fifth of Sedg- 
wick's command, were all the troops engaged in the assault on 
Salem Church. It was about 4 o'clock when these arrange- 
ments were completed. In this manner (described above) we 
jDassed up the plank-road, under the gallant Brooks, following 
the enemy closely, but meeting with no opposition until reach- 
ing a point about two miles from Fredericksburg. Here the 
road describes a slight curve round a small pine grove. As 



the liead of our column was rounding this point a section of 
artillery stationed in the middle of the road about eight hun- 
dred yards distant and near a toll-gate opened upon us with 
shell, the first shot killing one of our artillery sergeants. For 
a few minutes the fence rails and small pines were hurled 
about like chaff" as the shot tore through the woods. 

The Confederate skirmishers were soon encountered in the 
vicinity of the Taylor House, and driven steadily back. On 
the right of the plank-road the country was open, offering but 
few advantages for the Confederates to find cover ; occasion- 
ally they would take position behind a rail fence and show a 
disposition to dispute the ground with us, when our two regi- 
ments (on the right) would trail arms and take up the double 
quick with a cheer, upon which the enemy would promptly 
come to the " right about" and move off', but the troops on 
the left did not fare so well in their advance, as the ground 
over which they had to pass was broken and covered with 
timber and underbrush; in some places the timber was cut 
and piled as cord-wood, forming an excellent defensible posi- 
tion. From our point of view on the open ground, the ad- 
vance on the left was a good representation of the American 
style of bush fighting; occasionally you would see a group of 
"Yanks" making a resolute rush at a pile of wood, from be- 
hind which a party of "Johnnies" would deliver a spiteful fire 
until our men would be almost on top of them, when they 
would seek shelter behind the next pile, receiving the fire of 
our boys as they ran. Sometimes our boys in their eager- 
ness to close with the enemy would get it a little hot, and they 
in turn would come hopping out of a thicket in a hurry, but 
only to try it again. In this manner we kept the "Johnnies" 
moving at a pretty rapid gait, their artillery limbering and 
moving down the road as we approached, when at a safe dis- 
tance they would "go about," "unlimber," and open fire again. 
It was now nearly sunset. We had by this time reached a 
point about four miles beyond Fredericksburg, near Salem 
Church ; here our guns went into position on a slightly ele- 
vated plateau on the right of the plank-road near the toll- 
gate, from which the ground sloped gently towards a belt of 



67 

timber four or live hundred yards in our front. This wood- 
land was a continuation of the forest on the left of the road 
through Avhich the First and Second brigades were advanc- 
ing, our line of battle not being over 1000 yards in length. 
On this descending plain towards the wood on the right the 
jSTinety-fifth and One hundred and nineteenth Pennsylvania 
advanced in perfect order; our skirmishers now entered the 
woods and were at once hotly engaged by a strong force of 
the enemy,* who were intrenched along a dirt road running 
through the woods parallel with our line of battle and near 
the church. A few rods in advance of this woods Col. Town 
halted his small brigade, and we lay down behind a low brush 
fence for a few moments while the gallant Jersey skirmishers 
in front peppered the now seemingly broken and confused 
mass of Confederates who swarmed' about the little chapel 
in front. However, the enemy by this time were receiving 
heavy reinforcements from Lee's army at Chancellorsville, and 
meanwhile the Jerseymen and Bartlett's men on our left were 
sharply engaged, having charged the Confederatesf in their 
strong position at the school-house, seizing that stronghold, 
with its miniature garrison, whom they made temporary pris- 
oners, and were in turn driven off, losing heavily. Ammuni- 
tion now running low, our men began to fall back; quickly 
our line of battle sprang to its feet to confront the swarms 
of rebels which now poured out of the woods line upon line, 

* Wilcox's Brigade (Anderson's Division) of Alabama, consisting of the 
Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Fourteenth regiments who had moved 
up from Banks' Ford, which point it had been watching. Too late to assist 
early upon the heights, these troops were hastily thrown into position across 
Sedgwick's path. 

t Barksdale's and Hayes' Brigade (" Louisiana Tigers") which had occu- 
pied the heights; the former's regiments were the Thirteenth, Seventeenth, 
Eighteenth, and Twenty-first Mississippi. Hayes' Brigade, was composed of 
the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Louisiana. Beside these Con- 
federates Lee had detached from his army in Hooker's front with commend- 
able audacity a large force under Gen. McLaws. These were Kershaw's, 
Wofford's and Semmes' brigades of McLaws' Division, and Mahone's Brigade 
of Anderson's Division (Report of Gen. Lee upon the battle of Chancellors- 
ville, page 12). 



68 

firing and yelling with demoniacal fury as they advanced. 
Bravely our two little regiments, under Col. Town, strove to 
resist the overwhelming torrent which now overlapped our 
right and threatened total annihilation. Finall}^, after a des- 
perate struggle, which scarcely lasted ten minutes, we were 
forced to give way, and together with the troops on the left 
seek shelter behind our guns on the elevation just in rear. 
Almost 200 of the Ninety-fifth were left weltering in their 
gore upon the bloody plain. Among the first to fall was our 
brave Col. (Town), shot through the head, killed almost in- 
stantly, quickly followed by Lieut.-Col. Hall and Adjutant 
Dunton, both shot dead. Our major, Thomas J. Town, and 
a younger brother, Lieut. Samuel Town, were both wounded 
about the same time, the three brothers being struck almost 
simultaneously. Upon reaching the cover of our batteries, a 
storm of shell and canister was rained upon the advancing 
foe, who w^ere quickly driven back to the shelter of the woods, 
leaving some prisoners in our hands, who had followed us up 
so closely that they were forced to surrender. Here we re- 
formed our sadly shattered ranks.* 



* The First division being all engaged, I was ordered by Gen. Newton to 
move with two regiments to the right of the road, and to take general direc- 
tion of the operations on that portion of the battle-ground. A deep ravine, 
with a stream in it, beyond the Morrison House, was soon crossed by the 
Ninety-third Pennsylvania, Captain Long, and One hundred and second 
Pennsylvania, Colonel Kinkead (the One hundred and thirty-ninth Pennsyl- 
vania, Colonel Collier, being left supporting a battery, but came up soon 
after), and crossing the ridge beyond, they were soon engaged under a terrific 
fire of musketry from a hidden foe. To sustain this fire many minutes was 
evidently impossible, and I immediately despatched staff officers to the rear 
to bring up troops with which to form a second line, and others to assist in 
delaying the retirement of the One hundred and second, and Ninety-third, 
which was soon anticipated. Before they were pushed back, the troops on 
the left were driven towards us in confusion by overwhelming odds, and by 
the time a second line was formed, the battalions of the enemy were rushing 
up the ravine we had just crossed, and for a few moments it seemed hardly 
possible to hold our position ; but the rebel regiments could not keep formed 
under our heavy fire, and gradually retired with heavy loss, while our most 
advanced line moved off in good order by its right flank, and formed in rear 
of the batteries behind our second. The Ninety -eighth Pennsylvania and 



69 

Shortly after this disaster at the church, Gen. Is^ewton became 
warmly engaged on the right flank, which was on the woody 
slopes at some distance to the right and rear of our original 
line of battle. Fresh bodies of troops from Lee's army 
(McLaws and Anderson's divisions) now poured in on both 
flanks, and our bleeding and broken lines were being pushed 
rapidly back in all directions. Col. Brown's brigade of Xew- 
tou's division again distinguished itself as at Marye's Heights 
earlier in the day, and in an opportune moment smote the 
elated foe with a full shower of missiles, impinging the entire 
mass to their destruction. Back to the forest from which 
they had emerged flew a bleeding remnant of these devoted 
sons of the Confederacy, not to appear again that night. 
Brown's brigade was formerly commanded by Gen. Deven^ and 
was composed of the Seventh, Tenth, and Thirtj'-seventh Mas- 
sachusetts, the Second Rhode Island and Thirty-sixth 'Hew 
York Volunteers. The presence of Gen. Newton (temporarily 
commanding the Sixth Corps) and Gen. Frank Wheaton 
(temporarily commanding the Third division), inspired these 
men on, and although much worn down with the part they 
had taken in the storming of Marye's Heights, they behaved 
Avith a courage sublime. Thrice Col. Rodgers commanding 
the Second Rhode Island seized the flag of his regiment, and 
dashing forward led his men on the Confederate position in 
the dense woods in his front, chastening the foe severely. The 
hard fighting now ceased for the day, though heavy skirmish- 
ing was maintained throughout the darkness. The slaughter 
in the First division was frightful. The One hundred and 
twenty-first ISTew York had lost 273 of its members alone. 
Thus ended the battle of Salem Heights, or Church, as it is 
sometimes called, and a day which had opened with every pros- 
spect of glory and success to our arms had now darkened into a 



Sixty-second New York were necessarily left on the south side of the main 
road, where they performed gallant service, under the ofiBcer in charge of 
that part of the line." * * * (Official Report of Brigadier-General Frank 
Wheaton). 
6 



70 

night of gloom and disappointment; the fruits, some said, of 
another incompetent at the head of the Army of the Potomac* 

Let us look at the right (Hooker's wing) for a moment : of 
its operations, we knew hut little; the "fly" order of Gen, 
Hooker had inspired a confidence of success in that com- 
mander, so, therefore, we could only wait developments. We 
could hear the faint muttering of distant thunder, which pro- 
claimed a war storm in that direction, and at night we saw 
the lightning issuing from the angry clouds. It was evident 
to us now that our General had miscalculated his enemy, or 
had failed to make him " fly" so " ingloriously" as was his in- 
tention or supposition that he was " flying. "f 

The Sixth Corps M-as now in a critical situation. Howe's 
heroes, who hut a moment ago owned the Heights, were now 
looking toward those dominant hills, hot of disposition, its 
lines of battle facing Fredericksburg and our rear. The First 
and Third divisions and Light Division were facing Chancel- 
lorsville. There was some two miles distance between the lines 
of battle, and their opposite directions was at once indicative of 
our precariousness. Thrice during this night of biting anxiety 
and woe did our weary commander. General Sedgwick, tele- 
graph his situation to Hooker (by way of Banks' Ford, on the 
Rappahannock, a few miles above Fredericksburg, and our only 
line of communication now open). Sedgwick asked for help 
in case the enemy renewed the battle, and informed his chief 
that he had been checked — severely handled — and also in- 
formed him of the constant arrival of reinforcements from his 
(Hooker's) front. To these despatches he could get no reply. 
At length, on the morning of the 4th at 8 o'clock, Sedgwick 
received the following from the commanding General. 



* This immolation on the part of Sedgwick no doubt saved Hooker's 
army from destruction, for whilst in the height of his success Lee had re- 
ceived information of the disaster to his right, the loss of Marye's Heights, 
which caused him to turn his attention in that direction, suddenly relieving 
Hooker of the pressure in his front, thereby giving him an opportunity to 
take up a new and strong defensive position. 

t On the 2d, at ten minutes past 4 P. M., Hooker telegraphed to Gen. 
Sedgwick, as follows : " We know that the enemy is flying, trying to save 
his trains ; two of Sickles' division are among them." 



71 

"You are too far away for me to direct. Look to the 
safety of your corps. Fall back on Fredericksburg, or cross 
the river at Banks' Ford, as you deem best." 

The Union line of battle at Chancellorsville ran east and 
west, and was in length some five miles or more. Glen. 
Hjward, with the Eleventh Corps, was on the right, and 
Gen. Meade, with the Fifth Corps, and one division of the 
Second Corps, formed the left of the line. Slocuni, with his 
own corps — the Twelfth — and one division of Sickles' corps 
(Third), occupied the centre of the line. A frail defence of 
fence rails and earth was thrown up along the edge of the 
Orange Court House Plank Road, which leads out from Fred- 
ericksburg (except where he had found it necessary to digress), 
and which was found the more convenient ground for manoeu- 
vring, as thereabouts cropped out the wilderness, a strange 
locality, entirely uninhabited save by wild game and danger- 
ous reptiles. A stronge reserve was formed of the other 
divisions of Hooker's army; and Gen. Hooker made his 
headquarters at the Chancellor House, a large brick mansion 
standing at the intersection of the road above mentioned, and 
another road leading to United States Ford, this single house 
giving a name to the place. There was about fifteen miles 
distance between the left wing of our army here, and the right 
of Gen. Sedgwick's line below Fredericksburg. Hooker's 
easy success in placing his army in this position by the 
2d, had led him to believe that Lee would either attack 
him upon his front — which he had strongly prepared for and 
made more hopeless for the Confederates' success, by causing 
the felling of timber and the placing of other obstructions — or 
beat a hasty retreat towards Richmond, an event which he 
had instructed Sedgwick to be prepared for. He, therefore, 
instead of assuming the offensive, awaited battle on his 
" own ground," where certain destruction awaited, not the 
enemy, but, as was afterwards shown, his own devoted army ; 
whilst thus certain of his front. Hooker was not altogether 
unmindful of his right flank, which he early inspected, and 
although finding it to be in a rather defenceless state, expressed 
a sort of sciolous satisfaction. However, Gens. Slocum and 



72 

Howard had their attention called to this, through a circular 
order from Hooker at half past nine in the morning of the 2d ; 
but as it appears from the testimony (see Reports on the 
Conduct of the "War, vol. i. p. 178), of Gen. Devens — who com- 
manded the First division of the Eleventh Corps, and who so 
long and ably commanded a brigade in the Third division 
(Sixth Corps) — no change was made in the disposition of the 
troops under his command, although his right flank " rested 
on no obstacle, and was what is technically termed " in air." 
On Friday evening, the 1st, Lee determined upon a bold stroke 
for a Confederate victory ; he decided to turn his antagonist's 
right flank, crush his rear, and place a strong force between 
Hooker and the fords of the Rapid Anna. For this impor- 
tant work, Lee chose his chief executor, " Stonewall" Jackson, 
who, with about 25,000 veterans, oflicered by men who knew 
every path of the wilderness, began the march on Saturday 
morning (May 2d), moving diagonally across the Union front, 
taking the narrow by-paths through the forest by which he 
was to a degree unobserved.* He had so confused our Gene- 
rals as to lead some to suspect the Confederate army to be 
retreating. This movement was observed from the First 
division (Eleventh Corps) headquarters with some interest 
(see Reports on the Conduct of the War, vol. i. p. 178). 
About six o'clock in the evening of the second, a rattling 
musketry fire was heard on the extreme right. Gen. Hooker 
at once despatched some of his aides-de-camp to ascertain the 
particulars ; but before they could reach that point, the whole 
of the troops on the right (Deven's division) were met flee- 
ing the field, panic stricken, along the line of defence held by 
the Eleventh Corps, and sweeping that corps before it as it 
went; soon after this the Confederates appeared in sight, 
almost wild with their success. This furious onset on the 



* A Confederate officer with whom the writer conversed whilst on his way 
to Richmond, said that, in many instances, Jackson's men, in order to ac- 
complish this movement, crawled long distances through the dense forest 
undergrowths upon their hands and knees, and occasionally were compelled 
to drag their bodies through very limited spaces in the narrow bushy confine 
with which the wilderness abounds. 



73 

right and rear of Deven had carried terror with it to such 
an extent that Hooker, fearful the fugitives would stampede 
his whole army, directed what cavalry he had with him, 
assisted by his staff, to charge the frightened and fleeing 
legions with sabre in hand. Alas, no human power could 
arrest their flight. At this moment Hooker ordered Berry's 
division of the Third Corps and one brigade of the Second 
Corps troops, which were in reserve, to move at the " double 
quick," with instructions to cover the flight of the Eleventh 
Corps, and, if possible, to seize and hold, at all hazards, the 
high ground which had been abandoned by that corps. Di- 
rections were also given for the two divisions of the Third 
Corps, at this time far in advance of the line which had been 
occupied by the Eleventh Corps, to attack the enemy on his 
flank, in order, if possible, to check his further advance. The 
position of Gen. Sickles was extremely critical, as the enemv 
had it in his power to cut off" his communication with the 
main army. While these operations were progressing on the 
right, a front attack was made by Lee on the Second and 
Twelfth Corps, which was handsomely repulsed. Gen. Berry, 
after going about three-fourths of a mile, found the enemy 
occupying the elevated position he sought to obtain, so 
was compelled to establish his line in a vale on the Chancel- 
lorsville side of that elevation, i^ight found Hooker's army 
in a contracted and precarious situation, out of which he at 
once made preparations to extricate it. In the Confederate 
lines all was not joy, for " Stonewall" Jackson lay bleeding to 
death. Amidst the rebels' rejoicing a gloom had suddenly 
spread itself. Jackson, whilst reconnoitring in the dusk of 
the evening, had gone too far beyond his lines, and being mis- 
taken with his staff" for a body of " Yankee Cavalry," was fired 
on by his own men, and mortally wounded. At an early 
hour, on the morning of the 3d, Lee renewed the attack upon 
Hooker's front. Hard pressed, at 11 o'clock Hooker changed 
his front, fell back to a new line, where he rested his army, 
expecting a union of forces with Sedgwick. Thus, it was an 
easy matter on the afternoon of the 3d of May for the Con- 
federate Chief to play the dicer, with an extra throw for the 



74 

Sixtli Corps. The night of May 3d was passed in suspicion 
and gloom.* 

Sedgwick's shattered regiments were put in order, and a 
strong line of pickets established along the Sixth Corps front. 
The wounded were cared for as best could be ; those able to 
hobble along made their way to Fredericksburg, where but 
little available room awaited the vast number of suffering, 
and where the enemy soon swarmed, re-occupying the heights 
and vicinity, cutting Sedgwick off in that direction. Prepara- 
tions were made during the night of the 3d to secure the flanks 
and keep our communications open with Banks' Ford, some 
miles in the rear. This involved so heavy an expenditure 
of troops as to render the situation a dangerous one for long 
occupation, and was assumed only for immediate defence. The 
Confederates were now working around Sedgwick's position 
with menacing adroitness, and felt our lines in several places.f 



* A curious and touching incident in the death of one of the writer's regi- 
ment is the following: In getting over a post and rail fence, in our front, 
during the heat of the battle, one of our party (a brave young fellow) was 
shot dead just as he had reached the topmost rail ; there he fell, and remained 
equipoised in deaih, to the surprise and horror of all around ; after we had 
fallen back, and daring the night a gentle breeze rocked the corpse to and 
fro in its aerial position, the moon shed a halo about the head and face of 
this "somebody's darling," and a rebel picket made the scene more hideous 
by the flash of his rifle, which seemed to come from beneath the dead soldier. 

t Fredericksburg and Marye's Heights were re-occupied by heavy rein- 
forcements, and the Washington Battery — abandoned by us as an incum- 
brance — was carried to its former position. Hemmed in upon all sides by 
land, the river lying in our rear, as the only means of escape, our line of battle 
represented three sides of a hollow square, and into this the enemy dropped 
his iron compliments to us occasionally. Gen. M. T. McMahon, who was Gen. 
Sedgwick's Chief of Staff (and in whose arms the gallant old soldier died 
when shot at Spottsylvania Court House, Va.), relates the following anecdote, 
which is vividly illustrative of a general sort of apprehensiveness of danger 
to the Sixth Corps' existence at that time. Gen. McMahon says, " On that 
morning a staff officer of Gen. Sedgwick, whose personal relations enabled 
him to speak freely, and whose youth, no doubt, inspired him with a senti- 
ment of enthusiasm, remarked to the General that the situation seemed 
gloomy. The General quietly assented, with that pleasant merry twinkle in 
his eye which all who knew him will remember. Our young friend then 
remarked : " General, it looks as if the Sixth Corps was going to close its 



75 

Before the day closed (4th), a desperate encounter took place 
between Howe's division, in which the Confederates were 
badly cut up by the gallant Vermonters, who did the 
most of the fighting. On Tuesday morning, the 5th, at 2 
o'clock. Gen. Sedgwick Mnthdrew his command across the 
Rappahannock, at Banks' Ford, and occupied the high ground 
along the river. Having re-crossed in safety, the bridges were 
taken up with slight loss. This was accomplished with the 
aid of a detail of the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry who, after 
rendering valuable service to Gen. Sedgwick, swam the river 
with their horses. The contraries arising out of the de- 
spatches between Hooker and Sedgwick somewhat annoyed the 
latter, when receiving an order to hold his position immedi- 
ately after he had withdrawn, and at a moment, too, when 
the Confederates were making weighty endeavors to crush his 
flanks. With this movement. Hooker's nine days' campaign 
was brought to an unhappy close.* It is true, we punished 

career to-day." " It has somewhat that appearance," said the General. 
" Then," said our young officer, with much honest intensity, " if the Sixth 
Corps goes out of existence to-day, I hope it will be with a blaze of glory 
that will light the history of this war for all time." The General quietly 
smiled, and bending forward, said : " I will tell you a secret; there will be 
no surrendering." 

* Gen. Hooker, and his favorites, soon after this, sought to shove the 
blame for his (Hooker's) failure upon Gen. Sedgwick. Nothing could be 
more unfair, or supremely wicked ; but Gen. McMahon, before mentioned, 
has so eloquently replied to that accusation (in a recent address before the 
'• Vermont Officers' Re-union Society"), that we will content ourselves by 
quoting that gentleman's language upon that occasion as a good enough de- 
fence of our gallant old commander. Relative to Sedgwick's strong and ear- 
nest appeal, " Can you help me, if I am strongly attacked ?" Gen. McMahon 
says, "There was no reply. In the direction of Chancellorsville there was 
the silence of death. Not an answering gun replied to the crash of our 
artillery, which echoed from every battery, 'i'he enemy on our front, in fact, 
I may say, on our three fronts, replied. The commanders of the other corps, 
who stood inactive near Chancellorsville, heard the incessant roar of the 
artillerj' near Salem Chapel. They chafed almost to mutiny because, while 
this gallant little band, less than one-fifth of the army, was contending 
against these desperate odds, six corps stood idle within the sound of their 
guns." Gen. McMahon continues: "Sedgwick and Hooker have passed 
away, and have undergone that final judgment from which there is no ap- 



76 

the enemy severely, but we had paid dearly the price from 
our best blood. The loss in the Sixth Corps was nearly one- 
third the entire casualties of the army ; 5500 killed, wounded, 
and missing, the loss in the different corps being as follows : 
First Corps, 292 ; Second Corps, 2025 ; Third Corps, 4039 ; 
Fifth Corps, 699 ; Sixth Corps, 5500 ; Eleventh Corps, 2808 ; 



peal. I am not here to say one word in disparagement of the dead, much 
less of a gallant soldier like Gen. Joseph Hooker, but I do stand here to 
vindicate the memory of one of the purest men, one of the truest patriots, 
one of the best and bravest, aye, and grandest soldiers that ever honored 
any land by a life of honorable service, and a glorious death upon the field 
of battle. It has been stated before a committee of the National Congress, 
whose sole business seemed to be during the several years of their continu- 
ance, to dishonor the names of the best and truest of our soldiers, that Sedg- 
wick's failure to obey the orders of Hooker, was one of the chief causes of 
the failure of the Chancellorsville campaign. This statement was principally 
made by a man who still lives, and whom, therefore, I am at full liberty to 
answer. Daniel Butterfield, Major-General, Chief of Staff of the Army of the 
Potomac, absent from every position of danger during all these operations, 
controlling at the old headquarters at Falmouth, Prof. Lowe, the chief of bal- 
loons, and doing a large correspondence, in Napoleonic style, by telegraph and 
stenographer, has stated before this Committee that Gen. Sedgwick's delay 
was the primal" cause of the failure. Gen. Sedgwick's order to advance to 
Chancellorsville, and be there at daylight, included another and more im- 
portant commission. He was directed to make this march — impossible in 
itself in the time allowed — impossible, if the march was unresisted. He was 
ordered to capture Fredericksburg and everything in it, which he did. 
He was ordered to capture Marye's Heights, which he did magnifi. 
cently. He was ordered to advance upon the plank road, which he did. He 
was also ordered to destroy any force that might intervene between him and 
the General commanding. 'I'his he gallantly attempted, and did as much in 
the line of destruction as it was possible to do with the force at his com- 
mand. The same despatch which ordered him to destroy any intervening 
force informed him that the army commanded by Gen. Robert E. Lee was 
between him and the position he was ordered to occupy at daylight. Now, 
an order to destroy Gen. Lee and his army was very easy to issue ; its execu- 
tion, as some of you gentlemen will perhaps remember, was attended with 
considerable difficulty ; and when it is considered that during the thirty-six 
hours that Sedgwick was struggling to execute this part of the order, the 
main body of our army, consisting of six corps, never fired a shot, although 
within sound of Sedgwick's guns. 1 submit that any man who says that the 
failure could, in any degree whatever, be attributed to Sedgwick, insults 
every soldier of his command, and dishonors the memory of the dead." 



.77 

Twelfth Corps, 2883 ; Engineer Corps, 3 ; Signal Corps, 2 ; 
Cavalry, 145 ; total, 18,196. Hooker lost 14 pieces of artil- 
lery, and about 20,000 small arms. The Confederate's loss 
was estimated, upon good authority, to have been about 
18,000 In killed, wounded, and prisoners. 

In the First division our loss was almost irreparable. The 
great, good, and brave among the rank and file had fallen, 
and were, amidst the confusion which followed each event, 
left as they dropped down to be cared for by a merciless 
foe. The loss in the First l^ew Jersey regiment was the 
gallant Col. Mark W. Collett, struck down in the heat of the 
battle, killed, and Captains William H. Tantum and Smith G. 
Blythe, and Lieut. Charles Seagraves and George B. "Wight, 
wounded ; 18 enlisted men were killed or died from wounds, 
and 71 were wounded, and 16 missing, making a total of 110. 
In the Second Regiment Col. Buck received a painful injury 
by being thrown down with his horse, and Adjutant Joseph 
B. Wilde was wounded. Capt. William Bergen was mor- 
tally wounded, and died on the 4th. Captains Henry P. 
Cook (Capt. Cook received a painful wound in the neck 
whilst acting aide-de-camp to Col. Brown, commanding the 
First brigade), Herman Lipfert, Henry H. Callan, and Lieut. 
John T. Whitehead were wounded ; 10 men were killed 
or died from wounds soon after ; 36 were wounded, and 3 
missing, a total of 56. In the Third regiment. Col. Henry 
W. Brown was severely wounded whilst in command of the 
brigade, in the fiercest of the conflict. Capt. Archibald S. 
Taylor was killed, and Captain John Frantz wounded. 22 en- 
listed men were killed or mortally wounded, and 69 received 
wounds of more or less severity ; 4 were missing, making a 
total of 98. In the Fifteenth regiment Captain Ira J. Linds- 
ley fell at the head of his company, and Lieutenant John Fow- 
ler was instantly killed, and Capt. Thomas P. Stout wounded. 
The mortality among the enlisted men was appalling ; 39 
were killed or died shortly after, from the effects of their 
wounds, and 111 were wounded, and 4 were missing, making 
a total of 157. The Twenty-third regiment sufl:ered severely 
in commissioned officers, and was also particularly unfortu- 



78. 

natc in wounds. Lieuts. Charles Sibley, James S. Budd, 
Sidney 11. MeCarter, were killed, and Capts. Paul R. Ham- 
brick, Reading ]S"ewbold, and Samuel B. Smith, and 
Lieuts. George W. Severs, G-eorge W. Arbuckle, Richard J. 
Wilson, and Ebenezer Montgomery were wounded ; 23 enlisted 
men were killed, 57 wounded, and 23 missing, making a total 
loss of 114 ; the total loss in the brigade being 535, including 
8 commissioned officers killed and 20 wounded. The Second 
brigade (Bartlett's) was also greatly cut up. The Sixteenth 
^ew York occupied the right of the brigade line, and was 
exposed to a fearful fire. Lieut. Col. Frank Palmer was 
among the first to fall in this regiment — severely wounded. 
Among the commissioned officers wounded were Capts, 
William L. Best, William W. Wood, and Lieuts. William E. 
Hesselgrave, Andrew C. Bayne, and William H. Walling. 
20 enlisted men were killed, 82 wounded, and 49 missing ; a 
total of 156. 

The Twenty-seventh Xew York lost thirty-five men, as fol- 
lows: three killed, twelve wounded, among whom was Lieut. 
John C. Fairchilds, twenty missing — the greater portion of 
whom were ascertained to have been wounded. The One 
hundred and twenty-first New York, Col. Upton, met with 
the greatest slaughter — two hundred and seventy-five of its 
heroes were absent at roll-call at the close of the campaign. 
The regiment had fought with splendid courage, and won the 
plaudits of its companions throughout the entire strife ; among 
its dead were Captains Thomas S, Arnold, who died on the 
18th, jSTelson 0. Wendell, and Lieutenants U. F. Doubleday 
and Frederick E. Ford — the latter having held his commis- 
sion scarcely one month. Captain Andrew E. Mather, Lieuten- 
ants Delevan Bates, Jonathan Burrell, and Henry Upton were 
wounded, and Assistant Surgeon Daniel M. Holt was among 
the missing. Forty enlisted men were killed, one hundred 
and thirty-six wounded, and ninety were missing, of whom 
many were afterwards ascertained to have been wounded. 

The entire loss during the campaign, in the Fifth Alaine, 
was ninety-seven men, ten of whom were commissioned officers. 
Lieut. Cyrus W. Brann was killed, and Lieutenants Smith 



79 

G. Bailey, and W. F. Brown mortally wounded. Adjutant 
George "W. Bicknell, Captains E. M. Robinson, Albert L. 
Bearing, and Lieutenants 0, B. Stevens and John H. Stevens 
w^ounded. Lieutenants William E. Stevens and Frank G. 
Patterson were taken prisoners. Nine enlisted men were 
killed, fifty-five wounded, and twenty-three were missing; of 
the latter, six were afterward ascertained to have been killed. 

The Ninety-sixth Pennsylvania lost Lieut. Alexander Alli- 
son, mortally wounded (died on the 5th), and Lieutenants 
John Von Hallen and John S. Oberrender. Fifty-five enlisted 
men were wounded, fifteen enlisted men were killed, and 
twenty were captured— a total of ninety-three, which includes 
the casualties at the Bowling Green Road. The total loss in 
this brigade was six hundred and fifty-six, including eight 
commissioned ofiicers killed and nineteen wounded and cap- 
tured — exactly the number of ofiicers lost in the First brigade. 
Nearly the entire loss in the Third brigade fell upon two regi- 
ments (the Ninety-fifth and One hundred and nineteenth Penn- 
sylvania). 

The Ninety-fifth was exceedingly unfortunate. Thirteen 
commissioned ofiicers fell beneath the scythe of destruction, 
and nearly two hundred men were snatched from its ranks, to 
be accounted for in the terrible degrees known only to warfare. 
The killed were Col. Gustavus W. Town, Lieut.-Col. Elisha 
Hall, Adjutant Eugene D. Dunton, Captain Thomas D. G. 
Chapman, and Lieut. David Hailer. Major Thomas J. Town, 
Captain George Weest, Lieutenants Frank Stewart, Samuel 
H. Town, II. Oscar Roberts, William J. Gelston, Samuel H. 
Jones, and Samuel Topham were wounded. Thirty-one en- 
listed men were killed, and seven died soon after from their 
wounds ; one hundred and twelve were wounded and thirty- 
seven taken prisoners — a total of two hundred. 

Out of four hundred and thirty-two men present for duty in 
the One hundred and nineteenth Pennsylvania, one hundred 
and fifty-three were killed, wounded, or missing; Captain 
Peter Rogers being among the former, and Captains Charles 
P. Warner, Andrew T. Goodman, and Lieut. John M. Cook 



80 

among- the wounded. Eleven enlisted men were killed, one 
hundred and nine wounded, and twenty-nine missing. 

The casualties in the Forty-ninth Pennsylvania were slight, 
as was the fortune of our other two regiments — ^the Eighteenth 
and Thirty-second 'Sew York. Thirty -six were reported 
wounded and missing in the latter regiment. In the former, 
the wounding of Col. William H. Irwin was greatly deplored, 
as it occurred just at the commencement of our operations. 
Captain William B. Freeborn of Company K was mortally 
wounded, lingering until August 20th, when he expired. 
Two enlisted men were killed, eight wounded, and twenty- 
four were missing — a total of thirty-four. 

In the Eighteenth New York seven enlisted men were 
Avounded, and Col. Myers had his horse killed under him. 
The entire loss in the brigade was four hundred and thirty- 
three — nearly one-half falling upon the Ninety-fifth Pennsyl- 
vania. Of this number, nineteen were commissioned officers, 
seven of whom were killed or mortally wounded, and twelve 
wounded. 

The loss in the First division is thus shown to aggregate 
one thousand, six hundred and thirty-three oflicers and men ; 
to which number Captain Reed, aide-de-camp to Gen. Russell, 
unfortunately belonged, wounded. 

The casualties in our Second division were thus reported : the 
Second brigade (Vermonters), Col. Lewis A. Grant command- 
ing, lost a total of four hundred and twenty-four oflicers and 
men during the campaign, including one commissioned ofiicer 
killed and eleven wounded — one mortally. 

The Second Vermont had seventeen enlisted men killed and 
one hundred and fourteen wounded, among whom were Cap- 
tains Amasa S. Tracy, Erastus G. Ballou, Horace F. Cross- 
man, and Lieut. Francis A. Gleason (the latter died from his 
wounds on the 30th of May). Sergeant Major Henry H. 
Prouty of the regiment was also of the number. In the Third 
regiment Lieut. Richard P. Goodall, Jr., was wounded. Four 
enlisted men were killed, thirty wounded, and thii-teen miss- 
ing. In the Fourth regiment Lieutenants Thomas Ensworth, 
Jr., Frank Hastings, and twenty -three enlisted men were 



81 

wounded, one killed, and seven missing. Three were killed 
in the Fifth regiment and eleven wounded ; Lieutenants 
Ronald A. Kennedy and Lyman F. Loomis being among the 
latter. Nine were missing. 

In the Sixth regiment Lieut.-Col. Oscar A. Hale had his 
horse shot under him. Captain Luther Ainsworth was killed, 
and Captain Alonzo B. Hutchinson and Lieutenant Porter 
Crane, Jr., were wounded, and four enlisted men were killed, 
fifty-two wounded, and fifteen missing. The Twenty-sixth 
!N'ew Jersey lost one hundred and twenty-three enlisted men, 
of which number fifteen were killed or mortally wounded, 
sixty-five wounded, and forty-three missing. 

Third Brigade, Gen. Neill. The Twentieth N'ew York had 
nine men killed, forty-six wounded, and ninety captured. 
Among the wounded were Captain Henry E.. "Walter and 
Lieutenants Conrad Wiess and Francis Schmidt. The Thirty- 
third ^ew York was terribly cut up in the struggle for the 
possession of the Heights ; it had six color-bearers shot down 
successively, and lost upwards of two hundred men during 
the campaign. Lieutenant Charles D. Rossiter was mortally 
wounded, and died on the 4th ; and Captains Edward E. Root 
and Chester H. Cole, and Lieutenants Bernard Byrne and 
Sylvester Porter were wounded. 

There were but two men out of Captain Edwin J. Tyler's 
company who were not wounded or had bullets to pass 
through their clothing. Captain Tyler's coat was "wound- 
ed" in a dozen places during the charge, but, strange as it 
may seem, the Captain was not hurt. 

The Seventy-seventh JN^ew York also lost heavily; among 
its cherished dead was a gifted young soldier. Captain Luther 
M. Wheeler, who is spoken of by those who knew him best, 
as a brave and efiicient ofiicer and an accomplished gentleman. 

In the Twenty-first New Jersey twenty-one ofiicers and men 
were killed and mortally wounded, including Col. Gilliam Van 
Houten, who commanded the regiment during the battle. Cap- 
tain Thomas C. Kendall was severely wounded, and with most 
of the wounded of the Twenty-first, fell into the hands of the 
enemy. Captains John Shafile and James W. Van Keuren, 



82 

and Lieutenants Michael SluifHe and William II. Debevoise 
Avere alike unfortunate. Captain Slialiie lost his left arm, and 
Captain Kendall was wounded in the shoulder and leg; the 
latter limb was amputated by the surgeon of the Fifty-fourth 
North Carolina rebel regiment; and Captain Kendall was the 
iirst one of our prisoners paroled and sent through the lines. 

In the Seventh Maine, eighteen men were killed or mortally 
wounded, and seventy were otherwise wounded. First Lieut. 
Joseph G. Butler, commanding Company "D," was killed 
while gallantly leading his men on the fortifications, having 
struggled to this point through a blaze of tire from the Con- 
federate works across a plain, and through a deep morass, in 
which many of the men sank to their hips. In the desperate 
encounter which ensued in the evening of the fourth, near 
Banks' Ford, Lieut. Colonel Selden Connor, commanding the 
regiment, and Lieut. AndreAV M. Benson were wounded, and 
Lieut. Lemuel C. Small was taken prisoner. The total 
loss was ninety-two. The loss in the Forty-ninth New York 
Avas in proportion to that of the brigade, but no commis- 
sioned officers were killed. Gen. Neill reported the casualties 
in his brigade at one thousand on the evening of the 4tli of 
May. This Avould make a loss, with that of the Vermont 
brigade, of one thousand four hundred and twenty-four. 

The loss in the Third division (Newton's) was thus re- 
ported : — 

First brigade. Col. Alexander Shaler commanding. Sixty- 
fifth New York, Major Henry J. Ilealey, wounded ; two 
enlisted men killed, fourteen wounded, and twenty -three 
missing. A total of thirty-eight. 

Sixty-seventh New York. 

The Twenty-third Pennsylvania lost a total of seventy-one 
enlisted men killed and wounded, and two captured. In the 
Eighty-second Pemisylvania, Major Isaac C. Bassett, Capts. 
Francis B. Letterts, John H. Delap, and Lieut. John T. 
Hawkins were wounded. Capt. Delap died from his injuries 
on the 9th of May. One hundred and twenty-second New 
York, Captain Morris H. Church, and six enlisted men, were 



83 

wounded. The total loss in the brigade was one hundred and 
eighty. 

Second brigade, formerly the Third, Col. Wm. II. Brown 
commanding-. The Second Rhode Island was roughly handled 
in helping to press back the foe in the evening of the third. 
Two brave soldiers, First Sergeants Nichols and Green, " B" 
and " I" companies, were the first to fall. Captain Charles 
W. Turner was severely wounded, whilst inciting his men to 
deeds of valor, and Lieut. Bates received a painful wound 
in the thigh. Seven enlisted men were killed, sixty -six 
wounded, and eight were missing; a total of eighty-one; 
" Under a tree, directly in the rear of the regiment, the dead 
were buried." (Rhode Island in the Rebellion, p. 236.) 

The Thirty-sixth IS'ew York, like the Xinety-fifth Pennsyl- 
vania, had every field officer shot. Col. William II. Brown 
suffered the amputation of his leg. Lieut.-Colonel James 
Walsh was wounded, and Major Elihu J. Faxon killed. 
Adjutant Robert H. Jones and Captain George V. S. Robin- 
son were wounded, and sixty-seven enlisted men killed, 
wounded, and captured ; a total of seventy-two. 

The Seventh Massachusetts began the campaign with a 
little more than five hundred officers and men ; it was reduced 
about one quarter b}^ its loss in the several engagements. Col. 
Thomas D. Johns, who led the storming column on the right, 
was severely wounded, and Capjtain Prentiss M. Whiting and 
Lieuts. Wright Bisbee and Albert A. Tillson were killed. 
Lieut.-Gol. Franklin P. Ilarlow, Adjutant Edward X. Dean, 
and Captains Iliram A. Oakman, Zeba F. Bliss, and Lieuts. 
James E. Seaver, John C. Bos worth, and one hundred and 
five enlisted men were wounded ; of the latter, eight died of 
their wounds, and two enlisted men were killed, making a 
total of one hundred and thirty-seven. 

The Tenth Massachusetts lost sixteen men killed and 
wounded on the Heights. In the subsequent operations, 
Captain Flavel Shurtleff and Lieut. Terry S. Xoble were 
wounded. Thirteen men were killed or died from wounds, 
fifty-seven wounded, and ten missing, aggregating to ninety- 



84 

eight. The Thirty-seventh Massachusetts had one enlisted 
man killed, ten wounded, and twelve missing ; a total of 
twenty-three. The total casualties in the brigade were four 
hundred and eleven. 

Third brigade, Wheaton's, Col. John F. Ballier commanding 
(temporarily). Sixty-second New York, Lieut.-Colonel Theo- 
dore B. Hamilton, Captain William Ackerman, and Lieuts. 
William T. Brady and Lewis Samuels, were wounded ; and 
Lieuts. William F. Porter, Edward H. Morris, and Louis J. 
Stuart, were missing ; thirteen enlisted men were killed, 
ninety-three wounded and missing; a total of one hundred 
and thirteen. 

]S"inety-third Pennsylvania. Twelve of this regiment were 
killed, seventy-three wounded, and thirty-four were reported 
missing. Among the former were Lieuts. Washington Brua 
and William D. Boltz. Lieut. B. Frank Hean was among 
the wounded ; a total of one hundred and nineteen. 

The Xinety-eighth Pennsylvania w^as commanded during 
this campaign by its Lieut.-Col., George Wynkoop, a gallant 
officer, who won the admiration of his division commander 
by his splendid behavior at a most critical juncture. Gen. 
Wheaton says in his official report of the battle of the fourth: 
" At 3 J P. M. on the fourth, the left of the Third division was 
attacked by a strong column of the enemy, but our batteries 
soon drove them back. At 5 P. M. oar extreme left, held by 
the Second division, was hard pressed, and I was ordered to 
send a regiment to Howe's right. The Ninety-eighth, under 
Lieut.-Col. Wynkoop, was immediately despatched with a staff 
officer ; and almost immediately after I was ordered to the 
same point with the whole brigade. We moved down the 
plank road at a double quick, and turned into a field on- the 
left, and formed line of battle, advancing. The most advanced 
rebel batteries of the attacking column were within fifty yards 
of a low furze fence, just as the Ninety-eighth was at an equal 
distance from this side, shooting and tiring as he advanced. 
Lieut.-Col. Wynkoop reached the fence first, and checked the 
rebels, who found an unexpected line to meet them ; seeing 



85 

it well supported, and my other three regiments advancing, 
they fell back, and were easily captured." 

Col. JBallier, who was in command of the brigade during 
the series of engagements, was severely wounded in the foot, 
and Captain Casper Geisz, and Lieuts. Louis Lichstern, Louis 
Soistman,and George Bush were wounded, the latter mortally : 
seven enlisted men were killed, and fifty-two wounded and 
missing ; an aggregate of sixty -four. 

The One hundred and second Pennsylvania, commanded by 
Col. Joseph M. Kinkead, suliered heavy losses. Lieut.-Col. 
John W. Patterson was wounded, and among the missing. 
Captain John Large was killed, and Captain James J). Duncan 
was wounded, and Captain Orlando M. Loomis and Lieut. 
Charles S. Barclay missing ; eighteen enlisted men were 
killed, ninety-five wounded, and fifty-one missing ; aggre- 
gating one hundred and seventy-one. 

The One hundred and thirty-ninth Pennsylvania was com- 
manded by Col. Frederick H. Collier during the campaign. 
Lieut. James T. Harbison, a brave officer, was killed, and Cap- 
tain John C. Dempsey mortally wounded. Captain Dempsey 
expired about twelve days after the battle. Lieuts. Daniel 
Crum and Isaac A. Pearce were wounded. Eleven enlisted 
men were killed, seventy-three were wounded, and thirty-five 
missing, making a total of one hundred and twenty-three. 
The assreo-ate loss in the brio;ade was five hundred and 
ninety, the loss in the division footing up to one thousand one 
hundred and eighty-one. 

The Light Division assailed the Heights with two thousand 
three hundred men ; its casualties were nearly half its 
number. 

The Sixty-first Pennsylvania, which led the storming party, 
lost its gallant Col., George C. Spear, killed, and six com- 
missioned officers wounded, and one hundred and eighty- 
eight enlisted men, as follows: seven killed, fifty-nine 
wounded, and one hundred and twenty-eight missing. Cap- 
tains John W. Crosby, AVilliam W. Ellis, Jacob Creps, Robt. 
L. Orr, and Lieuts. Eugene Kaerner and George F. Harper; 
the latter died a fortnight after the battle. 
7 



86 

The Thirty-first l^ew York was also particularly unfortu- 
nate. Lieut.-Colonel Leopold C. Newman, and acting Major 
Captain J. Barnett Sloan, and Sergeant-major Robert Crozier 
were wounded, and Lieut. John Jewsbury was killed. Cap- 
tains Henry Shiekhardt and George A. Ebbetts, and Lieuts. 
George Hoermann, Erskine Rich, John W. Webster, and Ju- 
lius Ehehard, were captured (these latter were cut oft" with 
about a hundred of their men, on the fourth, near Banks' 
Ford). Twelve enlisted men were killed, fifty-nine wounded, 
and one hundred and forty captured ; a total of two hundred 
and eighteen, and two color-bearers were shot down. 

The Forty-third New York lost a total of two hundred and 
thirty-six officers and men. Captains Hugh B. Knickerbocker, 
Douglass Lodge, and Lieut. George H. Koonz were killed. 
Captain Lodge was among the first to reach the Confederate 
works, and plant the regimental standard upon the ramparts, 
Lieut. Robert Russell was painfully wounded, and Capts. John 
W. Wilkinson, William Wallace, William L. Thompson, 
Volkert V. Van Patten, and Lieuts. William Hastings, Hiram 
Van Buren, and James H. Smith, and about one hundred and 
fifty men were captured. 

The Sixth Maine (Burnham's regiment) lost one hundred 
and twenty-eight officers and men killed and wounded, and 
nine were missing. Among the lamented slain were Major Joel 
J. Haycock and Captains Sewall C. Gray, John H. Ballinger, 
Ralph. W. Young, and Thomas P. Roach. Capt. Roach 
suftered the amputation of a leg, and died on the 28th of 
May. Captain Benjamin J. Buck and Lieuts. James B. 
McKinley and George W. Burnham were wounded. Sergt. 
Frank P. Holmes (Company " A") of Calais, was killed in the 
charge on the Washington Battery. Young Holmes was a 
nephew of Vice-President Hamlin (1863), and fell at a glorious 
moment for his regiment — crowned with victory. 

The Fifth Wisconsin was badly shattered. Capts. Louis 
G. Strong, Jeremiah J. Turner, and Lieuts. Alpheus H. 
Robinson, and John McMurtry were killed, and Major Hor- 
ace M. Wheeler, Captains Horace Walker, Charles W. Kempf, 
Lieuts. Aaron B. Gibson, Louis F. ^Miller, Charles H. Mayer, 



87 

Asa W. Hathaway, and Richard Carter were wounded, 
thirty-five enlisted men were killed, and fifteen died from 
their wounds ; one hundred and sixteen were wounded, and 
thirty-four missing, making a total of two hundred and eleven. 

" Lieut. Brown, who commanded the famous Washington 
Battery, surrendered with his men to Col. Allen in person," 
The aggregate loss in the Light Division was nine hundred 
and ninety -six officers and men. 

The entire loss of the Sixth Corps was five thousand two 
hundred and sixty-four, exclusive of the loss to the artillery 
and casualties, which occurred on the stafi's of the difterent 
commanders ; these would bring the loss up to about five 
thousand five hundred. Gen. Hooker reported the loss in the 
Sixth corps at four thousand six hundred and one, and Gen. 
Sedgwick reported it at four thousand nine hundred and 
twenty-five ; but we have shown, by individual count, the 
loss to be much greater. The discrepancies above cited are 
no doubt the result of imperfect reports made at a time when 
many of the regiments were constantly on the move. 



\J 



?^ 



8:*- 











<^^^ "'^ ^^ ... °^ *-°^ aO '^'5 









^^^ °^ic^M 



